[Flag_This]

Just about every one of these points existed at the very beginning of the Roman empire. Tiberius (emperor #2), Caligula (#3) and Nero (#5) were all pervs of the highest order. Roman art was a rip-off of Greek art. There was always a vast gulf between the rich and poor in Rome. Finally, didn’t Gibbon also blame the rise of Christianity as one of the reasons the Roman empire collapsed?

[Jan_Sobieski]

Gibbon also blamed the rise of Christianity as one of the reasons the Roman empire collapsed

Which may perfectly explain why the western leaders are doing everything they can to erase every last vestige of Christian culture.

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

Finally, didn’t Gibbon also blame the rise of Christianity as one of the reasons the Roman empire collapsed? Never minding the corrupt life style of the Roman elite with sex and food orgies and blood sport, Rome stole wealth from surrounding nations and took prisoners as slaves. The Urban Roman became so decadent, he would not fight to save his own life. I would presume the urban Roman depleted overtime the countryside of robust men able to become soldiers. I would think Christianity would have steered whatever was left of non urban Roman citizens away from the burdensome lifestyle of the urban Roman.