The Roman Empire was a powerful, imperialistic nation that dominated the world for 500 years, due to its successful military and thriving government. It was destined for an industrial revolution, according to Esolen, The Politically Incorrect Guide to Western Civilization. So what exactly caused the fall of Rome? Historians have debated numerous theories. The most famous explanation is the invasions of Germanic tribes. However, the internal conditions of Rome include: unstable economic conditions, corrupt leadership, and overexpansion, heavily contributed to the fall as well. •Another popular theory is the influence of Christianity because of its contrast in values and biases of other cultures. Some historians question why Rome lasted as long
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Diocletian and Constantine’s reconstruction of the empire, division into West Empire and East Empire, resulted in a loss of money, which was desperately needed for the newly altered military and government. Both emperors attempted to solve these financial issues, but all of their attempts fell short. In the Western Empire there was a lack of money in circulation, which caused the people to amass the little money they had. In the Eastern Empire, Constantine was able to circulate new coins during the time period of his reign. By the 3rd century the economic instability became increasingly worse. Taxes were at an all time high and population growth was at an all time low. The population growth was another major reason for the fall, Anthony Esolen says, “When times go bad, or when a nation falls to cynicism or a practical atheism, people decline to marry, and those who do marry have fewer children.” Those in the position called curiales fell into their own form of slavery with the rise of taxes. When the taxes they collected weren’t enough, they were forced to pay the difference. Diocletian and Constantine enforced an edict to force people to stay curiales against their will. Many people in these positions had often attempted to run away after they realized this system would drain them of their finances. The curiales were not the only ones forced …show more content…
Jesus Christ offered hope and truth in a world with a reality of evil and darkness. The Church did many charitable acts, including taking in orphans, widows, and the sick. It was a free religion that valued humility, forgiveness, and loving your neighbor, values that contradicted the values of the Classical Roman. The emperors and state were no longer held in reverence and supremacy; the people had shifted their honor and respect towards God. Christianity seemed to have a positive impact to Rome, so why is Christianity blamed for the fall? Many historians and authors have written books explaining their point of view on this matter. For example, historian Edward Gibbon argues that Christians believed in a superior afterlife, so they were unconcerned with their current life, resulting in the Romans to not search for solutions to their present economic, military and government dilemmas. Gibbon also claims that Christianity is responsible for devolatilizing of the military Christianity Author, Anthony Esolen argues a different point of view, he says that Christians made up sections of Roman legions and the Bible does not discourage fighting for one’s country. So if Edward Gibbon is false and Christians did not destroy the pagan military, then what exactly is Christian’s connection to the fall? The actuality is that Christianity’s ideology and values changed Rome,
Diocletian and Constantine’s reconstruction of the empire, division into West Empire and East Empire, resulted in a loss of money, which was desperately needed for the newly altered military and government. Both emperors attempted to solve these financial issues, but all of their attempts fell short. In the Western Empire there was a lack of money in circulation, which caused the people to amass the little money they had. In the Eastern Empire, Constantine was able to circulate new coins during the time period of his reign. By the 3rd century the economic instability became increasingly worse. Taxes were at an all time high and population growth was at an all time low. The population growth was another major reason for the fall, Anthony Esolen says, “When times go bad, or when a nation falls to cynicism or a practical atheism, people decline to marry, and those who do marry have fewer children.” Those in the position called curiales fell into their own form of slavery with the rise of taxes. When the taxes they collected weren’t enough, they were forced to pay the difference. Diocletian and Constantine enforced an edict to force people to stay curiales against their will. Many people in these positions had often attempted to run away after they realized this system would drain them of their finances. The curiales were not the only ones forced …show more content…
Jesus Christ offered hope and truth in a world with a reality of evil and darkness. The Church did many charitable acts, including taking in orphans, widows, and the sick. It was a free religion that valued humility, forgiveness, and loving your neighbor, values that contradicted the values of the Classical Roman. The emperors and state were no longer held in reverence and supremacy; the people had shifted their honor and respect towards God. Christianity seemed to have a positive impact to Rome, so why is Christianity blamed for the fall? Many historians and authors have written books explaining their point of view on this matter. For example, historian Edward Gibbon argues that Christians believed in a superior afterlife, so they were unconcerned with their current life, resulting in the Romans to not search for solutions to their present economic, military and government dilemmas. Gibbon also claims that Christianity is responsible for devolatilizing of the military Christianity Author, Anthony Esolen argues a different point of view, he says that Christians made up sections of Roman legions and the Bible does not discourage fighting for one’s country. So if Edward Gibbon is false and Christians did not destroy the pagan military, then what exactly is Christian’s connection to the fall? The actuality is that Christianity’s ideology and values changed Rome,