Fall of Western Roman Empire

Fall of the Western Roman Empire
By: Linus Kollie
Period: 7R 3/5/13

The fall of the Western Roman Empire was due to excess corruption, the role of shifts in power, increased technology beyond its borders, economic problems such as trade, dependents on slavery, and less on the part of roman farmers. Germanic invasions also caused the fall. This made the fall of such a large cumbersome empire inevitable. Enemies always described Rome as a bridge that was once not passable. It was the America of ancient times and controlled almost all of the world’s trade, economy, and its army could back up any foreign thread that the enemy force concocted.
Rome’s political atmosphere was based upon a monarchy and then reduced to a dictatorship. This caused numerous fights for power and control of the army, and made such a world power which fought just about any country that it threated. This led to reoccurring civil wars, followed by a corrupted senate and an army on the brink of declaring war against its own country. Roman succession usually occurred when a leader was assassinated, killed in battled or captured by the tyrant that wanted its new power and could appeal to roman citizen where the current leader couldn’t. The government also had problems establishing control over newly won territory. For example, the Persians who also gained territory would allow the captured to continue life by just obeying the Persian leader and claiming the allegiance to Persia. Rome’s main problem was being a more friendly and peaceful empire. However, changing something that Romans had become accustomed to for so many years was difficult. For all of the glory and grandeur of Ancient Rome, the Roman economy never developed into anything terribly complex compared to modern economies. Ancient Rome was an agrarian and slave based economy whose main concern was feeding the vast number of citizens and legionaries who populated the Mediterranean region. Agriculture and trade dominated Roman economic fortunes, only supplemented by small scale industrial production. The staple crops of Roman farmers were various grains, olives, and grapes. Olive oil and wine, outside of direct foods, were among the most important products in the ancient civilized world and led Rome’s exports. Crop production was a largely low output and required a vast number of slaves to operate at any volume. Small farms disappeared to do the introduction of slaves in agriculture roles, this led to farmers selling land to rich landowners and moving into already populated cities. The new population in roman cities meant the unemployment rates of the entire empire skyrocket, and crime was a great outlet for those who had to adapt to city life, and the fact to stay alive, and feed themselves and families. Warfare broke out between the rich and the poor, this rich felt threading against the growing rate of poor, and the fact that they demanded representation not only in the senate but eventually a plebian leader, or a sympathetic leader that understood plebian life and work for their independence and growth. Social Equality as we know it was practically unknown the Romans. Women were treated as inferiors, the slave trade was booming, and, as one person put it, Rome was a great civilization for the few built on the backs of many. Wealth and resources were divided unequally during the empire, with relatively little social mobility. The large labor force consisted of slaves and poorly paid freedmen nearly indistinguishable from slaves. Debt landsmen and peasants tied down to the land were also not technically considered slaves. Christianity challenged the Roman traditional character, romans had to become a more peaceful and abiding people. Christianity was legalized by consitiane and with his conversion made ever other religion illegal and made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire. This was a blessing and a cruse, and was one of the final movements of the ancient Roman Empire. In conclusion, the Roman Empire faced many obstacles in its destruction that could have been avoided including corruption, territory control, and overall domestic control. This made the fall of such a large cumbersome empire inevitable. Western Rome was gifted and was always faced with threats, as a rustled it led to civil wars, Nemours deaths of soldiers, and the control of the great ancient power.