pressures+-+roman

Pressures that lead to the collapse of the Roman Empire   By Thomas Barrett 

 There were many external and internal pressures that caused the collapse of the roman empire. Things such as; Antagonism between the Senate and the Emperor,Constant Wars and Heavy Military Spending,Failing Economy and High Inflation,Barbarian Knowledge of Roman Military Tactics and eventually barbarian invasion, as well as not coming up with an effective way to chose the emperor. As the roman empire never came up with a good way to chose the emperor. This meant that generals were constantly being over thrown or assassinated. Between 235 and 284 AD the Romans had 2 dozen different rulers. Also there was Antagonism between the senate and emperor. During the reign of Julius Cesar, the roman empire changed from a republic to an empire.The Roman Emperor had the legal power to rule Rome’s religious, civil and military affairs with the Senate acting as advisers. The powerful, spoilt, wealthy Roman Emperors inevitably became corrupt and many lived a corrupt, deluded and immoral life. The Roman Empire saw many examples of rivalry between the Senators and the Emperors. Either the Senators didn't like the Emperor or the Emperors was hostile towards the Senators. Another failing of the roman empire was its economy. The roman empire had a failing economy and high inflation. The Government was constantly threatened by bankruptcy due to the cost of defending the Empire, the failing economics, heavy taxation and high inflation was another Causes for the Fall of the Roman Empire. The majority of the inhabitants of the Roman Empire failed to share in the incredible prosperity of Rome. The amount of gold sent to the orient to pay for luxury goods led to a shortage of gold to make Roman coins. Roman currency was devalued to such an extent that a system of bartering returned to the Roman Empire, one of the greatest civilisations the world had ever known. There were also reasons related to the military for the fall of the empire. The Roman Empire, as all empires, was formed by the strong and vast armies or Rome taking over countries by Superior force. This called for constant wars to gain territories, crush rebellions and repel outside invaders. In able to maintain the army the Empire had to spend a lot of money on supplies and the troops. Also over time, through fighting against and in the roman army, The barbarians learnt about Roman warfare. The knowledge that the Barbarians gained of Roman style of warfare and military tactics were eventually turned against the Empire and led to the sack of Rome by the Visigoths led by an ex-army soldier, Alaric. In the end, in 476 during the reign of Romulus Augustus in Rome, the western Roman Empire was taken over by Germanic tribes to the north. Augustus surrendered and the western Roman Empire ended. [|__http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/worldhistory/falloftheromanempire/__] __[|__http://www.roman-colosseum.info/roman-empire/causes-for-the-fall-of-the-roman-empire.htm__]  __