Fall Of Rome Notes

Fall of Rome It's not entirely arbitrary that Medieval / Renaissance History at About.com begins and Ancient / Classical History ends in A.D. 476. Edward Gibbon's 476 date for the fall of Rome is conventionally acceptable because that's when the Germanic Odoacer deposed the last emperor ruling from Rome. There are, however, other reasonable dates for the Fall of the Roman Empire. Some say Rome fell when it was split in two. Many say the Fall was an ongoing process lasting more than a century. Since Rome still exists it could even be argued it never fell. A related question, one subject to even more discussion is: Why did Rome Fall? There are some adherents to single factors, but more people think Rome fell because of a combination of such factors as Christianity, decadence, lead, monetary, and military problems. Even the rise of Islam is proposed by some who think the Fall of Rome happened at Constantinople. Since not all viewpoints are available on the Internet, this list of theories about the Fall of Rome is limited: Decay Financial Problems The Dole and Barbarians Economic, Military, Gradual Christianity Vandals and Religious Controversy Division of the Empire Lead Hoarding and Deficit The Roman Empire had become too big to control easily. Soldiers or families in distant parts of the Empire adopted local customs and the Empire was made up not only of natives from the Italian peninsula, but barbarians from the conquered lands. "But the decline of Rome was the natural and inevitable effect of immoderate greatness. Prosperity ripened the principle of decay; the causes of destruction multiplied with the extent of conquest; and, as soon as time or accident had removed the artificial supports, the stupendous fabric yielded to the pressure of its own weight.... The victorious legions, who, in distant wars, acquired the vices of strangers and mercenaries, first oppressed the freedom of the republic, and afterwards violated the majesty of the purple. The emperors, anxious for their personal safety and the public peace, were reduced to the base expedient of corrupting the discipline which rendered them alike formidable to their sovereign and to the enemy; the vigour of the military government was relaxed, and finally dissolved, by the partial institutions of Constantine; and the Roman world was overwhelmed by a deluge of Barbarians." - Gibbon - Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

Legacies of Rome The Roman Empire was one of the most advanced cultures of its time. The grandeur of Rome has had long-lasting effects on the societies of the entire world. Evidence of the brilliance and creativity of the Romans can be found in many modern countries: remains of roads, walls, baths, basilicas, amphitheaters, and aqueducts. These show the technological advances made by the engineers and architects of the Roman Empire. Many modern civic buildings have been built using the Romanesque styling. Perhaps the most important and far-reaching contributions were their administrative institutions - the legal codes and government systems - that have influenced western political life. Accomplishments 1. They wrote a set of laws that became the basis for many of the legal systems of Europe and Latin America. (See Law & Government) 2. They were master builders of roads, bridges and aqueducts to carry water. Building on the architectural accomplishments of the Greeks, they built the arch, the dome and the column. Some of the more famous buildings were the Temple of Vesta, the Panthenon, the Colosseum, the Theater of Pompey and the Arch of Titus. (See Aquaducts and Architecture) 3. They created sculptures that actually resembled people they were supposed to portray, which was a first. (See Art) 4. Their language, Latin, became the basis for many other languages and still influences us today. Languages like: Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and French. (See Glossaries, Terms) 5. They invented Roman numerals, which are still used today. (See Science, Technology & Math) 6. They were the first to organize a centrally controlled army. They also created a very disciplined and well equiped army that few could conquer