• The Fall of Rome

    An 8th Grade History Project
    by Atticus Lindley
    ALVA 2021 | Mrs. Patrick

Introduction

The fall of Rome occurred due to a variety of different factors that followed consistent themes, including: civic erosion, invasion, and sustainability. Whether you explore the limitations of wealth and workforce or the rise of invading forces – decline is the common them. This website will explore the Fall of Rome in the following ways – Reasons for Collapse, Why it Was Divided, and Role of Christianity. Use the tabs to the right to review specific reasons for collapse.

With the sheer size and land to cover, it was very difficult to control all areas of the empire and had great difficulty communicating effectively despite their excellent system of roads. Without proper communication, Rome began to struggle to spread out its resources and troops to be effective eat defending its borders. There was simply too much land to cover.

Dividing the empire made it easier to govern in short term with the economic crisis and foreign attacks.

Before Emperor Constantine declared that Christianity should be tolerated, Christians would be persecuted for their beliefs as it contradicted with Rome’s traditional religion.

The traditional Roman religion practiced Polytheism, whereas Christianity practiced Monotheism. Rome’s Emperor was considered to be a sort of god. but as Christianity is Monotheistic and worshiped only one deity (who was not the emperor), after the religion was accepted and began to spread, the Emperor’s authority and credibility weakened and caused the collapse to accelerate.

too much money and resources were being funneled into the military expance that Rome’s civic system started to decline. too much space and not enough people to defend it, which caused more and more economic decline to fill the gaps.

In 476 AD, Germanic leader Odoacer led an attack on the Roman Empire. The attack succeeded and resulted in ending the reign of Romulus Augustulus. As no other Roman Emperor ruled within Italy after this point, it is believed that this marks the year Rome truly ended.

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How was Rome Divided?

Dividing the empire made it easier to govern in short term with the economic crisis and barbarian attacks.

With the sheer size and land to cover, it was very difficult to control all areas of the empire and had great difficulty communicating effectively despite their excellent system of roads. Without proper communication, Rome began to struggle to spread out its resources and troops to be effective eat defending its borders. There was simply too much land to cover.

Christianity and its role in the divide

Before Emperor Constantine declared that Christianity should be tolerated, Christians would be persecuted for their beliefs as it contradicted with Rome’s traditional religion.

The traditional Roman religion practiced Polytheism, whereas Christianity practiced Monotheism. Rome’s Emperor was considered to be a sort of god. but as Christianity is Monotheistic and worshiped only one deity (who was not the emperor), after the religion was accepted and began to spread, the Emperor’s authority and credibility weakened and caused the collapse to accelerate.

Key Reason for the Collapse

Lack of sustainability is the factor that contributed the most to the fall of Rome. So many resources were being spent on expanding territory and military forces so fast, that it was simply impossible to sustain. With people losing faith in the Emperor, constant bombardment from foreign attackers, an advanced but flawed system of government, and a divided Empire, it was a strategic and logistical nightmare. I believe this should be an example to any community of people why it is a mistake to develop too much, too fast.

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