It has been stated that the very success of the Roman Republic in war and imperial expansions led to its defeat. While this statement makes several valid points, it is likely that numerous other facets functioned in the fall of the Republic---especially that of Senatorial corruption and its ensuing lack of popularity. Gradually and with little warning, the surface of Roman life as a Republic began to transform at a rate that threatened the very fabric of the governing body. With the commencement of the second Punic war, a great disproportion of wealth grew evident. Whereas prior most plebeians were farmers or laborers who owned small but significant portions of property or earned adequate payment for their toils, upon the second Punic War, Hannibal destroyed this land, leaving plebeians homeless with little source of income.
Many lives were lost in external conflicts as well as internal civil wars. Small pox and lead poisoning in the aqueducts further decimated the population. " To worsen matters, plague from China spread through the empire." (Sherman & Salisbury, 153) Just as in China, the disease caused intense suffering and depleted the already dwindling Roman population. " Medical knowledge was helpless in the face of pandemics like the mid-third-century plague, and Roman families could no longer populate the empire."
Centuries after the Rise of Rome and their extraordinary historical achievements, was their collapse. This was caused by the combination of numerous political, economic and social factors or otherwise known as the P.E.S. These problems included corruptions in both the military and resource productions, and of course their continuous failed attempts of expanding their empire resulting in others and even their own society to turn and rebel against them. Political factors involve people and organizations with such power, these include powerful emperors, leaders and empires. Although if people with such power are unable to maintain control, their society usually collapses and resolves in chaos.
The decline lasted for approximately 300 years until A.D. 476 when it finally collapsed. There were a number of problems which led to the empires downfall. One of the leading factors was that the people had become disloyal to the empire and very different than they had been years before. Another major reason was that there were political and economic decays. And also, the military had drastically weakened, which made a huge difference.
Due to this debt the government then resulted in printing money and this resulted in inflation. Inflation destroyed savings of the middle class and especially effected land owners as they relied on rent. State employees and factory workers purchasing power fell by 25% because of the value of the Iire. The state also spent 148 billion lire on the war effort and inflation increased with the price index quadrupling, and rising from 100 in 1914 to 413 in 1918. Conscription soaked up rural unemployment and some peasants grew prosperous.
The Decline and Fall of the Roman Republic The disintegration of the Roman Republic is the first example in European history of the collapse of a constitutional system. The fall of the Republic, which occurred from 133 until 31 B.C.E., was more than a single man event. It was a result of several individual actions or achievements, coupled with social conditions that weighed heavily on Roman society. Additionally, massive and rapid expansion from Rome's foundation as a booming city 700 years earlier until the mid 1st century B.C., created monumental holes in the political and governing ability of the Senate. Periods of stability were mixed in with those of near collapse, while powerful generals or inciters of the Roman mob jockeyed for position.
This decreased the income of money going into the government which was used for military and other government worthy things. The result of that led to higher taxation on citizens which made the people of Rome upset and ended up having less money to buy necessities and other things to keep the economy rolling. Another important reason was the abundance of slaves in Rome. The large quantity of slaves help lead to the growth of latifundia which is large land estates, consisting mostly of slaves for farming. This ruined the farmers of Rome which in result, they drifted to cities that helped add more unemployment to the cities.
The Senate of Rome had most control over the citizens. Han China did not allow lower class citizens to have a say on how the empire was ruled; while, Imperial Rome had a senate to represent their plebeian’s or ordinary people. Another difference between the Han China and Imperial Rome was that the emperor of Han China had been chosen through the family and the citizens of Imperial Rome chose their ruler. Han China and Imperial Rome emphasized territorial expansion in both of their societies. They perceived threats to security; this led to war and then increased the length of border.
Has the government committed violent or other hostile acts against the people? a. not directly violent, however cruel negligence of lower classes 1. peasants lived in extreme poverty while aristocrats and nobles lived in extreme grandeur 2. taxes on lower classes extremely high, while upper classes (nobles and aristocracy exempt) 4. Are there disagreements among the members of the ruling class? a. Charles de Calonne 1. new controller general of finance 2. suggested that previously exempt nobles should begin to pay taxes to improve the failing economy b. most nobles wanted to continue to be exempt from taxes c. King wanted a peaceful, unanimous solution 5. Have there recently been attempts to reform the system?
One of the most difficult problems was choosing a new emperor. Eventually, the throne went to the highest bidder. With the corruption within the empire, it would only grow weaker every day.”[1] The disapproval in government by the people of Rome brought on civil war. After the assassination of emperor Severus Alexander, a 50-year civil war would erupt and bring confusion to the empire. “In what sometimes has been called the ‘military anarchy’, the fifty years following the murder of emperor Alexander Severus in AD 235 saw reins of Roman power pass through the hands of no fewer than twenty legitimate emperors and a host of usurpers, between them each