The Roman Empire was at its highest peak during the reign of Augustus, in which he installed the idea of Pax Romana (meaning Roman peace) to bring peace, security, and civilized life to the Roman nation. However, even in the times of happiness and prosperity not all people welcomed the great Roman peace, as demonstrated by the troubles brewing in Egypt, Gaul, and Judea. As Rome began to falter under the economic, political, and military difficulties, many Romanized nations began to withdraw their support. The Roman nobles, rather than invest their money in the industries of Rome, chose to misuse their wealth, causing the economy to come to a halt. So, by the third century A.D. and the end of Marcus Aurelius reign, which ended Pax Romana, the
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However, the quality Roman soldiers began to deteriorate along with the Republic in the third century. They lacked loyalty to their country and were greedy for riches. Generals were driven to seize the throne, due to the fear of being killed by unfaithful troops or untrusted emperors. While in power, they had to protect themselves against assassination from other generals and had to buy the loyalty of their soldiers. Many emperors were assassinated during this time; Civil wars raged on, as legion fought legion in their quest to gain power. While this destruction of the army was occurring, the soldiers neglected their duties of protecting their borders from the invasions of Germanic …show more content…
Cities were pillaged, farmlands were destroyed, and trade came to a halt. The military, to gain their funds and supplies, resorted to emperors confiscating goods, forcing labor upon the citizens, and reduced the value of the coin to the point where it became basically worthless. These actions wrecked the middle class. The population was declining, which created a nightmare for the taxpayers, and it also meant fewer people who were able to supply the agricultural demand. The population decline also hurt the army and caused emperors to establish Germanic colonies to feed soldiers into the army, which lead to the army becoming full of barbarians. Rising prices, invasions, civil war, and declining agricultural production, brought upon calamity and famine amongst the cities. Everyone in and around the Roman Republic were caught in a current of breakdown in the
However, the quality Roman soldiers began to deteriorate along with the Republic in the third century. They lacked loyalty to their country and were greedy for riches. Generals were driven to seize the throne, due to the fear of being killed by unfaithful troops or untrusted emperors. While in power, they had to protect themselves against assassination from other generals and had to buy the loyalty of their soldiers. Many emperors were assassinated during this time; Civil wars raged on, as legion fought legion in their quest to gain power. While this destruction of the army was occurring, the soldiers neglected their duties of protecting their borders from the invasions of Germanic …show more content…
Cities were pillaged, farmlands were destroyed, and trade came to a halt. The military, to gain their funds and supplies, resorted to emperors confiscating goods, forcing labor upon the citizens, and reduced the value of the coin to the point where it became basically worthless. These actions wrecked the middle class. The population was declining, which created a nightmare for the taxpayers, and it also meant fewer people who were able to supply the agricultural demand. The population decline also hurt the army and caused emperors to establish Germanic colonies to feed soldiers into the army, which lead to the army becoming full of barbarians. Rising prices, invasions, civil war, and declining agricultural production, brought upon calamity and famine amongst the cities. Everyone in and around the Roman Republic were caught in a current of breakdown in the