Most people try to blame the fall of Rome on just one cause. In reality there are many reasons that the great Roman empire fell. Many people believe that Rome fell because of Christianity. But, like I said before, Rome did not fall because of just one reason. Rome most likely fell because of monetary issues, military problems, decadence, and maybe partially because of Christianity.
"It didn't take long for the Germans and Goths to realize that the new young emperors were weak and so this was a good time to attack. Roman generals also saw this weakness and revolted. First, Constantine III, a general in England, declared himself emperor at York in 405 AD. He took all the Roman troops out of England, across the English Channel to France, and he marched his army through France, collecting the French troops so they could all march on Rome."(source)
The Romans had great power for over 1000 years. They brought stability, prosperity, and order to the West. Excellent roads connected the far reaches of the empire with the Roman capital. The roads were built originally for military purposes but were also beneficiary to all communications and trade. Roman law kept the internal peace and 20 to 30 Roman legions defended the frontiers, in order to keep this peace.
The military problems go hand-in-hand with the monetary issues. The military was spending so much money that it began to drain the government. This shortage in money made it nearly impossible to provide public housing and maintain roads and aqueducts. The Romans became irritated and no longer had a desire to defend their once loved city. The government then began to hire soldiers from foreign countries, which was not only unreliable, but very expensive. In order to pay for this army the governors had to continually raise taxes.
Many people believe that Christianity was the solitary cause for the fall of the Roman empire. They believe that Christianity weakened the bonds that held Rome together.One man who believed this was Edward Gibbon.
"Notwithstanding the importance of these many contributing causes, Gibbon considers another two to be the most important and decisive: (1) the invasion of the barbarians, and (2) the growth of Christianity within the Empire. "I have described the triumph of barbarism and religion," he writes in the concluding chapter of his History. Every student of ancient Roman history would be familiar with the foreign enemies of the Roman Empire, most of whom were barbarians: the Goths, Lombards, Vandals, Alemannis, Huns, Persians, Turks, etc. As they had invaded Rome at one time or another, it is easy to appreciate their respective role in her fall. However, it is less easy to understand the role Christianity played as an accomplice."(source)
"It didn't take long for the Germans and Goths to realize that the new young emperors were weak and so this was a good time to attack. Roman generals also saw this weakness and revolted. First, Constantine III, a general in England, declared himself emperor at York in 405 AD. He took all the Roman troops out of England, across the English Channel to France, and he marched his army through France, collecting the French troops so they could all march on Rome."(source)
The Romans had great power for over 1000 years. They brought stability, prosperity, and order to the West. Excellent roads connected the far reaches of the empire with the Roman capital. The roads were built originally for military purposes but were also beneficiary to all communications and trade. Roman law kept the internal peace and 20 to 30 Roman legions defended the frontiers, in order to keep this peace.
The military problems go hand-in-hand with the monetary issues. The military was spending so much money that it began to drain the government. This shortage in money made it nearly impossible to provide public housing and maintain roads and aqueducts. The Romans became irritated and no longer had a desire to defend their once loved city. The government then began to hire soldiers from foreign countries, which was not only unreliable, but very expensive. In order to pay for this army the governors had to continually raise taxes.
Many people believe that Christianity was the solitary cause for the fall of the Roman empire. They believe that Christianity weakened the bonds that held Rome together.One man who believed this was Edward Gibbon.
"Notwithstanding the importance of these many contributing causes, Gibbon considers another two to be the most important and decisive: (1) the invasion of the barbarians, and (2) the growth of Christianity within the Empire. "I have described the triumph of barbarism and religion," he writes in the concluding chapter of his History. Every student of ancient Roman history would be familiar with the foreign enemies of the Roman Empire, most of whom were barbarians: the Goths, Lombards, Vandals, Alemannis, Huns, Persians, Turks, etc. As they had invaded Rome at one time or another, it is easy to appreciate their respective role in her fall. However, it is less easy to understand the role Christianity played as an accomplice."(source)
I don't agree with Gibbon when he states that Christianity is the only cause for the fall of Rome. I believe there were many causes for the fall of Rome, such as I stated before. If anything, the spreading of Christianity throughout Rome would have made oit mopre prosperous, because God would have blessed the city.
Barnett, Mary. Gods and Myths of the Romans: The Archaeology and Mythology of AncientPeoples. Smithmark Publishers. New York. 1996
Hadas, Moses. Imperial Rome. Time Inc Publishers. Canada 1965
