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Roman Empire Research Paper

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Historians have studied the rise and fall of the Roman Empire for years. They developed theories and wrote books detailing and illustrating the rise and fall of Rome. The classroom power point slides list five factors. These are: population decline, invasion, slave labor, financial crisis, and political incompetence. "The Roman Empire consisted of a complex set of relationships between governmental, administration, institutions, and groups". (www.ushistory.org). It is very difficult to point out one specific event or cause for the decline. It is reasonable however to say the single most significant cause for the fall of the Roman Empire was its financial crisis.
The Roman Empire lasted nearly 500 years from on or about the year 27 BC …show more content…

(Gibbon). Additionally, the Roman Empire depended on trade among themselves and with China and India. Trade with those countries generated revenue for the empire.
A failing economy characterized with less economic opportunities to slaves, farmers, and lower/middle class, shrinking markets, corruption, unemployment, declining slave labor, threat of bankruptcy, cost of defending the land, and heavy taxation contributed significantly to the fall of the Empire.
The four other factors listed above contributed greatly to the financial crisis of the Roman Empire. Since the 2nd Century, Roman population experienced a steady decline caused by famine, plagues, unemployment, and constant wars. Less population meant less taxes generated for the Roman Treasury and less work force. Invasions by foreign invaders (Visigoths and Vandals) required heavy and expensive dependence on the military to protect the homeland. Slave population declined and Rome had difficulty defending its borders and with less population and with fewer taxes the Empire had difficulty paying its military. Trade routes were controlled by selected individuals who generated more money to themselves instead of the Empire. Corruption and political incompetence of politicians who were more concerned with making wealth rather than looking out for the best interests of the

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