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Ancient Rome's Rise and Fall

By Tullie Williams

Summary

Romulus and Remus founded Rome in 753 BCE. Later, in 509 B.C.E., the Roman Republic was formed. The Roman Republic was a significant empire that had a strong impact on the world. It lasted for nearly 500 years before it transitioned into the Roman Empire. The Roman Republic was influential and powerful, leaving a lasting legacy. The period of Rome's empire began in 31 BC when the first emperor took charge and lasted until AD 476 when Rome collapsed. During this time, Rome enjoyed peace and growth for many years. However, by AD 117, the Roman Empire stopped expanding and had conquered parts of Asia Minor, northern Africa, and Europe. After Augustus died in 14 C.E., the Roman Empire split into eastern and western empires, each with its own ruler. The Eastern half, called the Byzantine Empire, lasted for another 1000 years. The fall of the western half of the Roman Empire wasn't caused by just one thing but a combination of various problems. Historians believe that political instability, economic and social issues, and a weakened border were the main causes of Rome's decline. The fall of Rome continued until AD 476 when the Roman Empire ended.

Summary

Cause and Effect

The Roman Empire had a powerful military, but its declining success led to the loss of land and increased vulnerability. The empire heavily relied on looting and slavery, which supported its economy. However, new laws prohibiting slavery caused unemployment and government support to rise. The rise of Christianity also posed a threat to Roman society, as it challenged the belief that the emperor was a god. This caused people to lose respect for the emperor and the empire. Government corruption, political disputes, and power struggles weakened the empire further. The continuous replacement of emperors led to chaotic leadership and conflicts between the Emperor and the Senate. Although these issues could have been resolved individually, their occurrence at the same time caused the empire to slowly collapse. Rome eventually lost control of its provinces one by one, starting with Britain, then Spain, northern Africa, Gaul, and finally, Italy. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, Europe was no longer under the control of a single power. This led to conflicts and alliances among different groups, resulting in the rebuilding of society in new ways. Over the next 1,500 years (up until World War II), Europe experienced conflicts as it became a collection of competing states. Despite the hardships, this division and competition fostered new ideas and brought significant changes in knowledge, economy, people's well-being, and politics. The journey to modern times was challenging but also unique in the world.

Cause and Effect

Significance

During the first century BCE, Rome became the most powerful state in the world. This happened because of several reasons, such as having a strong military, adaptable politics, economic growth, and fortunate circumstances. Rome's expansion had a big influence on the Mediterranean region and the city itself. To manage the growing empire, new institutions like provincial governments were created. The culture of Rome changed, too, with influences from Greece and other places. The city of Rome also went through physical changes as it received wealth and an influx of people from successful military campaigns.However, in later years, the Roman Empire faced many problems. Barbarians divided the empire into smaller kingdoms. One major impact of Rome's fall was the decline in trade and business. The long Roman roads fell into disrepair, and the organized movement of goods supervised by the Romans stopped. As a result, the quality of goods in Europe declined significantly after Rome fell.

Effect and Legacy

After the fall of Rome, Europe experienced significant changes in its political structure and culture. Different barbarian tribes established their own kingdoms throughout the continent. These tribes lived in small, independent communities that followed their own traditions and unwritten laws. As a result, they didn't develop large governments or trading systems. Education also suffered, and many schools disappeared, leading to a decline in literacy. During this tumultuous period, many people left cities and towns out of fear of warring kingdoms and invading tribes. They sought refuge with wealthy landowners who offered protection in exchange for work on their farms. These landowners, known as manors, became self-sufficient communities where people found all they needed. Millers ground wheat into flour, clergy conducted religious services, and craftsmen, bakers, tailors, and others worked within the manor. Consequently, cities and towns became less important, leading to a decrease in trade and the use of money. Instead, people resorted to bartering, directly exchanging goods and services. With limited trade and travel, cultural exchange declined, and many ideas from ancient Greek and Roman civilizations were gradually forgotten. Nevertheless, the impact of ancient Rome on the modern world remains significant. We can still observe its influence in various aspects of our lives, such as art, architecture, technology, literature, language, and law. The Romans' contributions can be seen in the construction of bridges and stadiums, the existence of books, and even in the words we use in our daily conversations. Their legacy continues to shape and leave an imprint on our world.

Effect and Legacy

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