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USO Canteen FReeper Style ~ Fall of the Roman Empire ~ October 14, 2003
Killeenroos.com ^ | October 14, 2003 | LaDivaLoca

Posted on 10/14/2003 1:53:37 AM PDT by LaDivaLoca

 
 
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ANCIENT WARFARE



Fall of the Roman Empire

Reasons for the fall of the Roman Empire
All left Rome open to outside invaders
adapted from History Alive material

There were many reasons for the fall of the Roman Empire. Each one intertwined with the next. Many even blame the introduction of Christianity for the decline. Christianity made many Roman citizens into pacifists, making it more difficult to defend against the barbarian attackers. Also money used to build churches could have been used to maintain the empire. Although some argue that Christianity may have provided some morals and values for a declining civilization and therefore may have actually prolonged the imperial era.

Decline in Morals and Values


Caligula (Gaius Caesar)
 

Those morals and values that kept together the Roman legions and thus the empire could not be maintained towards the end of the empire. Crimes of violence made the streets of the larger cities unsafe. Even during PaxRomana there were 32,000 prostitutes in Rome. Emperors like Nero and Caligula became infamous for wasting money on lavish parties where guests ate and drank until they became ill. The most popular amusement was watching the gladiatorial combats in the Colosseum. These were attended by the poor, the rich, and frequently the emperor himself. As gladiators fought, vicious cries and curses were heard from the audience. One contest after another was staged in the course of a single day. Should the ground become too soaked with blood, it was covered over with a fresh layer of sand and the performance went on.

Public Health


Roman Aqueducts
 

There were many public health and environmental problems. Many of the wealthy had water brought to their homes through lead pipes. Previously the aqueducts had even purified the water but at the end lead pipes were thought to be preferable. The wealthy death rate was very high. The continuous interaction of people at the Colosseum, the blood and death probably spread disease. Those who lived on the streets in continuous contact allowed for an uninterrupted strain of disease much like the homeless in the poorer run shelters of today. Alcohol use increased as well adding to the incompetency of the general public.

Political Corruption



 

One of the most difficult problems was choosing a new emperor. Unlike Greece where transition may not have been smooth but was at least consistent, the Romans never created an effective system to determine how new emperors would be selected. The choice was always open to debate between the old emperor, the Senate, the Praetorian Guard (the emperor's's private army), and the army. Gradually, the Praetorian Guard gained complete authority to choose the new emperor, who rewarded the guard who then became more influential, perpetuating the cycle. Then in 186 A. D. the army strangled the new emperor, the practice began of selling the throne to the highest bidder. During the next 100 years, Rome had 37 different emperors - 25 of whom were removed from office by assassination. This contributed to the overall weaknesses of the empire.

Unemployment



 

During the latter years of the empire farming was done on large estates called latifundia that were owned by wealthy men who used slave labor. A farmer who had to pay workmen could not produce goods as cheaply. Many farmers could not compete with these low prices and lost or sold their farms. This not only undermined the citizen farmer who passed his values to his family, but also filled the cities with unemployed people. At one time, the emperor was importing grain to feed more than 100,000 people in Rome alone. These people were not only a burden but also had little to do but cause trouble and contribute to an ever increasing crime rate.

Inflation



 

The roman economy suffered from inflation (an increase in prices) beginning after the reign of Marcus Aurelius. Once the Romans stopped conquering new lands, the flow of gold into the Roman economy decreased. Yet much gold was being spent by the romans to pay for luxury items. This meant that there was less gold to use in coins. As the amount of gold used in coins decreased, the coins became less valuable. To make up for this loss in value, merchants raised the prices on the goods they sold. Many people stopped using coins and began to barter to get what they needed. Eventually, salaries had to be paid in food and clothing, and taxes were collected in fruits and vegetables.

Urban decay


(archeological site)
 

Wealthy Romans lived in a domus, or house, with marble walls, floors with intricate colored tiles, and windows made of small panes of glass. Most Romans, however, were not rich, They lived in small smelly rooms in apartment houses with six or more stories called islands. Each island covered an entire block. At one time there were 44,000 apartment houses within the city walls of Rome. First-floor apartments were not occupied by the poor since these living quarters rented for about $00 a year. The more shaky wooden stairs a family had to climb, the cheaper the rent became. The upper apartments that the poor rented for $40 a year were hot, dirty, crowed, and dangerous. Anyone who could not pay the rent was forced to move out and live on the crime-infested streets. Because of this cities began to decay.

Inferior Technology



 

During the last 400 years of the empire, the scientific achievements of the Romans were limited almost entirely to engineering and the organization of public services. They built marvelous roads, bridges, and aqueducts. They established the first system of medicine for the benefit of the poor. But since the Romans relied so much on human and animal labor, they failed to invent many new machines or find new technology to produce goods more efficiently. They could not provide enough goods for their growing population. They were no longer conquering other civilizations and adapting their technology, they were actually losing territory they could not longer maintain with their legions.

Military Spending



 

Maintaining an army to defend the border of the Empire from barbarian attacks was a constant drain on the government. Military spending left few resources for other vital activities, such as providing public housing and maintaining quality roads and aqueducts. Frustrated Romans lost their desire to defend the Empire. The empire had to begin hiring soldiers recruited from the unemployed city mobs or worse from foreign counties. Such an army was not only unreliable, but very expensive. The emperors were forced to raise taxes frequently which in turn led again to increased inflation.

THE FINAL BLOWS


St. Severinus and Odacer
 

For years, the well-disciplined Roman army held the barbarians of Germany back. Then in the third century A. D. the Roman soldiers were pulled back from the Rhine-Danube frontier to fight civil war in Italy. This left the Roman border open to attack. Gradually Germanic hunters and herders from the north began to overtake Roman lands in Greece and Gaul (later France). Then in 476 A. D. the Germanic general Odacer or Odovacar overthrew the last of the Roman Emperors, Augustulus Romulus. From then on the western part of the Empire was ruled by Germanic chieftain. Roads and bridges were left in disrepair and fields left untilled. Pirates and bandits made travel unsafe. Cities could not be maintained without goods from the farms, trade and business began to disappear. And Rome was no more in the West.
 

For additional information, please click the links below:

Best of Gibbon's DECLINE & FALL of the Roman Empire

The Collapse of the Roman Empire

Fall of Rome

 



TOPICS: Front Page News; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Political Humor/Cartoons
KEYWORDS: romanempire; romanmilitary
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To: SevenofNine

alt

Go, CUBBIES!

 

181 posted on 10/14/2003 3:24:01 PM PDT by tomkow6 (.....goodbye, everybody!.....goodbye, everybody!.....goodbye, everybody!.....goodbye, everybody!)
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To: tomkow6; radu

Tom, radu, stressed out today???
Tom, how are your CUBS doing????

182 posted on 10/14/2003 3:40:38 PM PDT by Soaring Feather (Poets' Rock the Boat!! WHOO HOO)
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To: StarCMC
Can you post it in language everyone will understand? I don't do html other than paragraph and line.
183 posted on 10/14/2003 3:49:41 PM PDT by Hondo1952 (Never Forget!!!!!)
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To: StarCMC
".....a little vanity....."

They are, indeed, adorable!!! Let's ride! Thanks, Star, for sharing.

184 posted on 10/14/2003 4:20:20 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and Our Military Who Protect Her)
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To: beachn4fun
Great job, beach, with the road blocks! LOL!
185 posted on 10/14/2003 4:21:21 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and Our Military Who Protect Her)
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To: Kathy in Alaska; MoJo2001; LindaSOG; LaDivaLoca; bentfeather; beachn4fun; Ragtime Cowgirl; ...
From the men in the Military and the Canteen


186 posted on 10/14/2003 4:37:29 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (Good Evening Ladies)
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To: Radix
Hey, Mr. Radix! How'er ya Sox doin'????
187 posted on 10/14/2003 4:49:30 PM PDT by tomkow6 (.....goodbye, everybody!.....goodbye, everybody!.....goodbye, everybody!.....goodbye, everybody!)
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To: Hondo1952
9. Ship the UN Headquarters to an isolated island some place. We don't need the spies and fair weather friends here. Besides, the building would make a good homeless shelter or lockup for illegal aliens.

I like this idea!!

188 posted on 10/14/2003 5:10:17 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and Our Military Who Protect Her)
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To: tomkow6
The Red Sox lost today, and the Universe from this corner is unchanged.

Tom, I sincerely hope that the Cubs pull it out. I want the Cubs to win it all.

I have to leave the Canteen and FR.com for a while, possibly a very long while.

Please take care of the Canteen in my absence. Thank you in advance, because I know that you will. You represent the very best of the Canteen, and indeed the very best of the FR.com. I am pleased, and privilaged to be able to call you friend.

Sincerely, Fran aka Radix
189 posted on 10/14/2003 5:13:38 PM PDT by Radix (Hello, I am a Tag Line, and I am only here to distract you from my real mission, or am I?)
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To: Radix

End of 1/2

 

CUBS   0

Marlins  0

 

190 posted on 10/14/2003 5:13:59 PM PDT by tomkow6 (.....goodbye, everybody!.....goodbye, everybody!.....goodbye, everybody!.....goodbye, everybody!)
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To: Fawnn
Thanks, Fawnn, for all the Mr Suns. I've invited him to follow me home.
191 posted on 10/14/2003 5:14:19 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and Our Military Who Protect Her)
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To: All

Click Here for the RadioFR website!

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192 posted on 10/14/2003 5:14:45 PM PDT by Bob J
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To: All
Good Morning...er...Evening Everybody!!! Good Evening troops!!! Here is today's humor attempt!!

A famous admiral and an equally famous general were fishing together when a sudden squall came up. When it died down both eminent warriors were struggling helplessly in the water.

The admiral floundered his way back to the boat and pulled himself painfully in. Then he fished out the general, using an oar.

Catching his breath, he puffed: "Please don't say a word about this to anyone. If the Navy found I can't swim I'd be disgraced.

"Don't worry," the general said. "Your secret is safe. I'd hate to have my men find out I can't walk on water."
193 posted on 10/14/2003 5:22:48 PM PDT by minor49er (Why do they call it a TV set when you only get one?)
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub; LindaSOG; tomkow6; Kathy in Alaska; MoJo2001; Bethbg79; Radix; Fawnn; ...
ATTENTION CANTEENERS!!

Tomorrow, is ContraryMary's (my mom) birthday. If you could all please wish her a happy birthday, I am sure she would greatly appreciate it.

P.S. I am sorry to anyone I left off this list.
194 posted on 10/14/2003 5:26:10 PM PDT by minor49er (Why do they call it a TV set when you only get one?)
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To: tomkow6

End of 1

 

CUBS   1

Marlins  0

 

195 posted on 10/14/2003 5:26:11 PM PDT by tomkow6 (.....goodbye, everybody!.....goodbye, everybody!.....goodbye, everybody!.....goodbye, everybody!)
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To: tomkow6

End of 1 1/2

 

CUBS   1

Marlins  0

 

196 posted on 10/14/2003 5:33:51 PM PDT by tomkow6 (.....goodbye, everybody!.....goodbye, everybody!.....goodbye, everybody!.....goodbye, everybody!)
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To: tomkow6
Almost....
197 posted on 10/14/2003 5:34:22 PM PDT by tomkow6 (.....goodbye, everybody!.....goodbye, everybody!.....goodbye, everybody!.....goodbye, everybody!)
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To: tomkow6
Almost....
198 posted on 10/14/2003 5:34:23 PM PDT by tomkow6 (.....goodbye, everybody!.....goodbye, everybody!.....goodbye, everybody!.....goodbye, everybody!)
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To: tomkow6
almost
199 posted on 10/14/2003 5:34:35 PM PDT by tomkow6 (.....goodbye, everybody!.....goodbye, everybody!.....goodbye, everybody!.....goodbye, everybody!)
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To: tomkow6
200
200 posted on 10/14/2003 5:34:45 PM PDT by tomkow6 (.....goodbye, everybody!.....goodbye, everybody!.....goodbye, everybody!.....goodbye, everybody!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 199 | View Replies]


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