The+Fall+Of+The+Roman+Empire-+Parker+Campbell

= The Fall Of The Roman Empire- Parker Campbell = = = =  Lessons From The Fall Of The Romans = = = = By: Parker Campbell = = [|John Bagnell Bury], //A History of the Roman Empire from its Foundation to the death of Marcus Aurelius// 1893  [|Edward Gibbon]  , //The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire// 1994  [|Michael Grant]  , //The History of Rome 1991//  = = = = Throughout the Roman civilization, there have been many achievements as well as the eventual fall of this civilization. This has been brought on by: massive religious wars and persecutions within their civilization, stress of useful, once abundant resources, and the widespread effusion of plagues and diseases. __From the fall of the Romans, civilizations today can learn that although a civilization can be bountiful in almost every resource, skill, money and prosperity; simple arrogance and inexperience can lead to the destruction of a ‘powerful civilization.’ __ = = = = First, the Romans had massive religious persecutions and wars within their civilization, in which the Roman troops couldn’t control due to inexperience. There were many different persecuted religions including: Druids, Judaism, and Christianity. Druids were seen as essentially non- Roman. Druids were considered scum, as they practised a religion almost opposite to theirs. = = John Bagnell Bury, __A History of The Roman Empire.__ page 162 = = ‘The fall of the Roman Empire had impacted heavily from the collapse and persecution of = = = =  these prohibited religions.’ = = = = The troops in Rome were too spread out as well to handle the rebellion in the centre of Rome = = = = Secondly, the Romans used their resources strenuously, and lacked the experience and intelligence to stop the use of these resources before it was too late. = = Edward Gibbon, __The History and Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire.__page 143 = = ‘the depletion of many resources such as: steel, trees, iron, wool, etc. had a great = = = = accountability on the decline of the roman people in the capital of Rome.’ = = As well, inexperience and arrogance played a great role in the depletion of the water levels in the Mediterranean Sea, which to this day has still been depleted from too much use. Not only that, but military resources and spending was gradually cut down due to too much use of soldiers, materials for the weapons, food, travel, and other influences that played a major part in the depletion of resources and the eventual fall of the Romans. = = = = Lastly, diseases and plagues were not contained, and spread easily, which led to massive diffusion with an inexperienced government that just couldn’t handle the confusion. The Romans were used to doing everything public, from bathing to singing. Their disgusting habits and filthy streets led to widespread plagues and diseases that couldn’t be contained. Michael Grant, __The History Of Rome.__‘The Romans had no garbage = = = = system in place, had public baths and many other filthy traditions that by today’s rate, = = = = would be considered unhealthy by any means, which led to widespread diffusion of many = = = = different diseases.’ Also, the deadliest disease/plague ever was going on at this time, the black plague. This in turn with many other diseases that have no been cured also led to the eventual collapse of a once great civilization. = = = =  = =Through simple ignorance and inexperience, the greatest and biggest civilization could crumble. Rome is a great example of how this could happen through: strain on resources, religious wars and plagues. Civilizations today can learn a great deal from the Romans. = = = = = = = = = = = =Research Notes =

General -Post republican phase of ancient rome -Autocratic government -Roman republic founded after lasted 500 years -Roman empire controlled 6 million kilometers of land at greatest -Late 3rd century split into west and east -Western collapsed in 476 -Eastern endured until 1453 -Roman empire started 31 bc -Creators of the senate -4 different types: slaves, free people, knights and nobles of rome

Climate and geographic Factors -Mediteranean -Very hot -Dry -Bountiful land -Much gold, silver, etc precious resources -Much water to be divided among farmers -As 4th century started, further north began getting colder, resulted in roman empire being attacked and piliged of many resources, money, food, etc -Never snowed -Very humid -Close to many bodies of water -Flat -Much deforestation led to decline as well  The smooth beaches of the mediterranean http://www.maistrali-apartments.gr/images/zakynthos-shipwreck.jpg

Events and Leaders

-Leaders where kings up until the republic revolution which created senate -Had an autocratic government -4th century had many wars over resources -5th century fall of western rome -persecuted many over religion -battle of actium resulted in defeat/suicide of mark antony -octavian stepped in focused on full scale wars/armies/ political matters -octavian first to control everything -augustus steps in(julius caeser) -begins biggest reign of roman empire -family took over -many suicides/deaths follow as result of ‘unfit’ government -crisis of third century explains near collapse of rome -diocletin solved many of these problems -diocletin couldn’t stop the fall of the western empire -1204 usual date to end eastern empire, due to rebels, fourth crusade and the fall of constantinople -fall of constantinople is successful turkish attack that led to one of greatest declines in history, government, strutcure economy etc -fourth crusade originally planed to conquer jerusaleum, conquered christian cities instead A artist's conception of a great war between Rome and Turkey []

Plagues And Diseases -around 165 antonine disease started in rome -ancient pandemic -brought back by troops from battle -consisted of either smallpox or measles -killed half the population in 4 years -returned again nine years later, killing 2000 a day -total deaths estimated at five million -believed magic could stop it - lead poisoning popular among the rich -rich made almost all cooking utensils with lead -numbers unkown of deaths from lead poisoning -measles/mumps chicken pox and other diseases now cured, where big problem -general hygiene not important -shared baths/ water to clean in -population very packed to capital citys like rome. Spread quick -no waste disposal system The deadly antonine disease under a microscope http://traumwerk.stanford.edu/archaeolog/767px-Cholera_bacteria_SEM.jpg

Energy -farmers -produced food threw manual labour -no electricity/running water -used the sun to grow their food -got around by walking/horse -very unsustainable life -too many people, growing number of food/energy problems -lived in forested areas, which led to deforestation and less resources then needed -deforestation led to another reason for decline -many rivers being dilluted A smooth field in Rome http://ncbg.unc.edu/uploads/images/field.jpg

Agriculture and The Economy - farming big among romans - lived in hot,humid environment - good for growing crops - bountiful water - had 3 farm sizes - four systems for growing, use family, use slaves, use sharecrops or leasing a farm - many different areas=many different foods, drinks - vast majority of crops - oxen, bull did heavy work on farm - most farmers had only enough to food family - imperial government=control of currency - mint coins were issued, rulers facers on them - government issued gold,silver coins - senate issued bronze coins - economic factors considered major part in fall - poor management and hoarding major problem with economy - too much spending on military led to major problems - Rome considered richest country at time - Held biggest population,most wealth - Biggest army - Many resources Respresents the economy http://economy.solved.at/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/economy.jpg

Transportation and Weaponry -travelled by land and sea -romans=great architects, artists, engineers, builders -costructed bridges almost everywhere -built aquaducts and sewers in public baths -augustus=leader in economy building -augustus= more roads then ever, bridges and canals -romans great at building forts or buildings for war -walked and rode horses -travelled by sea with skilled architects and boats -boats typically went 10 miles an hour -basic equpiment for a soldier: helmet, armour, sword 18-24 inches, shield ,throwing spear, cloak and sandals -helmet resembled bowl -armor many different sections put together -very effective sword -throwing spear gave huge advantage -wore read cloak to put fear in others -focused mostly on artillery men who couldn’t see who they shot -travelled mainly along shore to avoid heavy winds

Basic equipment of a Roman soldier  http://masbury.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/roman-soldier.jpg

Bibliography

[] [] [] [] [] [|John Bagnell Bury], //A History of the Roman Empire from its Foundation to the death of Marcus Aurelius// [|Edward Gibbon], //The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire// [|Michael Grant], //The History of Rome//