The Fall of the Roman Empire: Study Guide

The Roman Empire and the Han Dynasty were both some of the greatest empires in their time. The fall of the Roman Empire was followed by the fall of the Han Dynasty. Three major things that contributed to these empires falling were the economic troubles these empires were going through at the time, taxation was a huge trouble for some of these empires, trade was also a big contribution, and being economically weak had an impact as well. Political reasons were a major of why these empires fell, both these empires had problems when it came down to their rulers, both these empires also split into two at a point, as well as the gap between the rich and the poor.

Throughout history, there were various empires which developed into great, powerful forces. These empires expanded their lands to new places but, these empires ultimately came to an end. Amongst these great empires, were the Han and the Roman empire. Both were great in power but, due to political, social, and economic causes, they came to an end. Although they do partake in the equal shares of corruption and problems with the military, they also had fair shares of differences, regarding their declines. For example, the Han empire had decentralization and rebellion while Rome had shifted in interests and developed war issues. These differences and similarities are bits of history which help to comprehend why these empires are no longer

One of the greatest civilizations ever born was the Roman Empire.  When it started off Rome was known as a “sleepy little town”(Background essay) that had awakened once the Greek empire began to fall.  During the time of Julius Caesar was when Rome turned from republic to an Empire with Caesar as its first emperor.  Soon over the years Rome became a powerhouse with its lands stretching all around the Mediterranean Sea.  However unlike other civilizations where they fell because of other civilizations, Rome fell from within its walls because of several possible reasons and theories.

The Roman Empire: one of the world’s greatest ever civilizations, was in existence from 700 BC to 476 AD. Although the empire was not ever an extremely weak world power, it’s “highest” point in time was from about 50 BC to 200 AD. During this time period, it was at its all-time high. The empire spanned across what is today 3 continents (Asia Minor, Europe, Northern Africa), was home to 50 million people, and had a its capital city, Rome, had a population of 1 million people. But what can make such a huge world superpower collapse? The “Fall of Rome” can be accredited to a weakened central government troubled by political assassinations, disease, and foreign invasion, during the empire’s last century of sheer existence.

The Western Roman Empire fell due to many flaws. However, it fell mainly due to invasions from external enemies, economics, and a discouraged society. Therefore, the empire began to slowly decline. This expansive empire fell not due to one, but many faults made over a time period. To this day the empire is remembered as one of the most advanced of its time.

From 1500 to 1700 Spanish colonial America and Tokugawa Japan led the world silver production. In the early 1570’s, the Ming Chinese government made it an obligation that all domestic taxes and trade fees be paid in silver. Due to these events it led to many social and economic effects on the global flow of silver from the mid-sixteenth century to the early eighteenth century. It had an effect on them religiously, trade wise, and their life styles. Documents 1 and 6 talk about how the introduction of silver production caused some affect towards them in a negative way towards their religion.

Currency became a political battle, causing controversy surrounding the issues of "free silver" and "sound money," parties argued coinage of silver or the gold standard (Divine). Republicans were criticized for their policy of restricting currency, after Lincolns issue of the “Greenbacks.” The issue for the nation’s first paper money helped fund the war but caused inflation. Mining was a gateway to vast silver, increasing Americas supply. To silver democrats, the silver was “16 to 1” and helped moderately to the currency problem of the 19th century. The “free silver” movement allowed unlimited coinage advocacy and allowed reformers to unite. Republicans and “Gold” Democrats were horrified to hear about the advocacy of “free silver,” they felt it would cheapen and devalue currency. “Free Silver”

production, however, all domestic taxes and trade fees were required to be paid in silver,

In conclusion, the previous events that lead to the fall of the Western Roman Empire, include many things. One of the catastrophic events that

The Roman Empire was at its acme in 117 CE. It stretched from the Atlantic Ocean to the Euphrates River in the Middle East, but like the stock market, it crashed or fell. The empire would grow too vast to be ruled by solely the central government of Rome, so in 285 CE Emperor Diocletian divided the empire into a Western and an Eastern Empire. Each empire would have its own leaders. When speaking of the Fall of Rome, many only account the Western Empire. Some historians believe that this split alone was what caused Rome to fall. However, others believe that there are multiple factors that caused the fall of the Roman Empire. In fact, most classicists, those who study ancient Greek and Latin,

cause them to not see an increase in income. New England farmers dealt with overworked land.

The law of gravity explains that what goes up, must come down. As humans living on Earth we comply to this law that at times can be dissimilar from objects such as the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in year 476 AD. Rome was a massive, heavily populated, and rich empire that controlled Mediterranean trade, which makes the collapse a big deal in history (Grant). Rome still existed after the year 476 AD, however it was no longer a superpower in the Western world just a power amongst many predominately in the East. The collapse of Western Rome was gradual where there was no finite cause, yet a series of events.

Some would say “but if it was just the government buying land with hard money why would that matter to the people?” The government set a standard for the way land was to be bought at the time even if it was not mandated. This made it so it was nearly impossible for normal people to buy land because there was no exchanging cash for gold. This did not just stay in the relm of buying property though. The government and private companies started to only take hard money in paying for

Q.)What type of men had succeeded Marcus Aurelius; "one of the last five good emperors"? A.) He was succeeded by incompetent men who had little concept of how to deal with drastic problems"

Ancient Rome was an empire so dominant, wealthy and economically- stable which came to a dramatic fall in the period of 250AD- 500AD. Ancient Rome faced unexplained unfortunate events which crumbled the Great Empire from the affluent empire to a impoverished society. For centuries historians have timelessly theorised and analysed many debates and research in relation to the Fall of the Roman Empire. What really caused the predominate Roman Empire to fall? Did Rome fall naturally? Was disease, such as malaria a major contributor to the Fall of the Empire, Was man -made infrastructure a problem during Ancient Roman times? Was the fall a natural event? Was the climate changing causing natural disasters? Maybe, perhaps, all the theories interweaved with each other at the same time causing a catastrophic downfall, defeating the Ancient Roman Empire. Edward Gibbon (Gibbon, 1909, pp 173-174.) quoted,