[Williams]

Just a general comment on the article and posts. There is too much misinformation here to respond to it all. But mistaking the 4th crusade's attack on Constantinople in the 1200's, for the fall of Rome itself in the 5th century, probably takes the cake. One of my pet peeves is folks who try to tell you "why" Rome fell. The Decline and Fall Of The Roman Empire tells a 1500 year history of the Western and Eastern Roman Empire. Because it is a great work about mankind in general, there are lessons galore for all of us. But like any 1500 year slice of any part of the earth's history, you cannot come up with a snap reason why it all happened.

[Oztrich Boy]

I agree. There may be a pony or two buried in it, but there is also a lot of HS here

Emperors like Nero and Caligula became infamous for wasting money on lavish parties where guests ate and drank until they became ill.

Except Caligula and Nero were early, and it was immediately *after* them that Vepasianus and Titus straightened the Empire out to one that worhed for the next coupla centuries.

First-floor apartments were not occupied by the poor since these living quarters rented for about $00 a year.

Where can I gets me one of them rich folks apartments?

[Intolerant in NJ]

... you cannot come up with a snap reason why it all happened...actually Gibbon came up with four after his twenty years of study - "injuries of time and nature", "hostile attacks of the barbarians and Christians", "use and abuse of the materials", and -

"IV. I have reserved for the last the most potent and forcible cause of destruction, the domestic hostilities of the Romans themselves. In a dark period of five hundred years Rome was perpetually afflicted by the sanguinary quarrels of the nobles and the people, the Guelphs and the Ghibelines, the Colonna and Ursini. With some slight alterations, a theater...was transformed into a strong and spacious citidel. Even the churches were encompassed with arms and bulwarks...." (chap seventy-one, abridged verson)....

[Held_to_Ransom]

Just a general comment on the article and posts. There is too much misinformation here to respond to it all. But mistaking the 4th crusade's attack on Constantinople in the 1200's, for the fall of Rome itself in the 5th century, probably takes the cake. One of my pet peeves is folks who try to tell you "why" Rome fell. The Decline and Fall Of The Roman Empire tells a 1500 year history of the Western and Eastern Roman Empire. Because it is a great work about mankind in general, there are lessons galore for all of us. But like any 1500 year slice of any part of the earth's history, you cannot come up with a snap reason why it all happened.

OK, so you don't agree with Gibbons. I was only citing his reason given in 'The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.'