answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

Roman wealth was controlled by a small part of the population. The rate of poverty increased as the empire grew, creating a rift between the rich and the poor hence the emergence of social decay. The Romans later lost their patriotism in their governance since they believed it lacked political honesty.

User Avatar

Wiki User

9y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

There are literally thousands of theories as to why the Roman Empire declined. I am happy you used the word "decline" and not "fall." There are arguments among historians whether the Roman Empire fell or went through gradual transitions. The reason for the numerous theories is the lack of evidence from the 4th and 5th centuries that would help provide more specific answers. One piece of evidence was the coinage found. The Romans coins were originally minted in silver but by the 5th century, the coinage was minted in basic metals as there is evidence that the silver mines had reached it's peak. This may have been a sign of technological decline as it may have affected trade with India via the Silk Route with China. Historians argue that the sudden expansion of the empire led to economic inflation, and in turn, high taxation led the to empire's downfall. According to the readings, it appears the Empire never had a budget for they were wasteful. The only way to up keep the empire afloat was to up keep the military through high taxation as they invade neighboring regions and plundering their resources. A Historian named Edward Gibbon wrote in the 18th century that the Roman citizens were in the process of "moral decay" due to the influx of Germanic "barbarians" in his book "The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1776-88). This theory was later debunked by the writings by future historians. The decay he speaks about was the western Roman Empire neglecting to note the the eastern empire has prospered and it was more Christian than the western empire. Peter Heather in "The Fall of the Roman Empire,"(2005) that main trouble was the threat from the Sassanid Persian empire (226-651) for half a century. The Roman Empire had to maintain a strong military. He does agree with Gibbon that in order to cope with the Sassanid threat, they totally stripping the the western empire of the towns' and cities of their regional income tax. However, Heather disagrees with Gibbon on that Christianity and moral decay led to the decline. Life for the middle and lower classes were not easy during these times. It was they who celebrated when the Romans were defeated by an outside army according to Joseph Tainter in a 1988 book "the Collapse of Complex Societies." He feels that the Roman Empire could not address the problems of an economy of declining returns. Tainter also theorizes that by conquering neighbors for their surpluses was only temporary and the long term problem of maintaining garrisons. civil governments, and communications costs grew substantially. In an archeological dig, Tainter reports that archeologists noted from the bones of a post empire person ate a lot better. Bryan Ward-Perkins wrote in "The Fall of Rome and the End of Civilization" in 2005, has archeological records indicating the collapse was a disaster. Historian William H. McNeill in his book "Plagues and Peoples" (1976) fingers diseases lasting 20 years as the cause if the downfall. I have just scratched the surface in theories. I am leaving a link for further reading.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

Political: Whenever a weak emperor ended up taking in control, powerful generals would often try and take advantage of the lapse in power to try and take power themselves. Continuous revolts and civil wars weakened the empire over time.

Military: Over time, the quality of the Roman legions decreased, and the legions were forced to rely on non-Roman auxileries, whose loyalty was questionable.

Economic: After the crisis of the Third Century, the vast network of Roman roads and highways was no longer considered as safe, nor was the Mediterranean considered as safe for trade. As a result, wealthy landowners started retooling their operations to be locally self sufficient - decreasing trade. As local operations became more self sufficient, they also felt more independent from Rome.

Social: From Constantine's conversion on his deathbed to Christianity, until Theodesius crushed the Pagans in the late 4th century, there was constant social tension between the Pagans and the Christians. Many influential Christians wanted to remove all Pagan temples, statues, and other works, whereas the Pagans wanted to preserve them and not let the Christians dominate the empire. This tension led to several revolts

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

6y ago

There were many reasons for the fall of Rome, including weakening of many of the structures which bound the Empire together. Some of the factors are briefly discussed here:http://www.history.com/news/history-lists/8-reasons-why-rome-fell

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

9y ago

The migration of Germanic tribes into Western Europe led to the decline of the Roman Empire. The spread of Christianity meant that people's loyalty was first to the Church, before the Empire.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

6y ago

The incoming Eurasian peoples moved in progressively, some seeking sanctuary, and eventually Rome was sacked.

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: What are the social causes that led to the fall of Rome?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about History of Western Civilization

What led to the final fall of rome how to answer in complet paragraph?

Read your history lesson and then itemize the factors that led to Rome's fall. You could say something like "the final fall of ancient Rome was due to........" and list the causes that you find in your lesson. It should take no more than a paragraph.Read your history lesson and then itemize the factors that led to Rome's fall. You could say something like "the final fall of ancient Rome was due to........" and list the causes that you find in your lesson. It should take no more than a paragraph.Read your history lesson and then itemize the factors that led to Rome's fall. You could say something like "the final fall of ancient Rome was due to........" and list the causes that you find in your lesson. It should take no more than a paragraph.Read your history lesson and then itemize the factors that led to Rome's fall. You could say something like "the final fall of ancient Rome was due to........" and list the causes that you find in your lesson. It should take no more than a paragraph.Read your history lesson and then itemize the factors that led to Rome's fall. You could say something like "the final fall of ancient Rome was due to........" and list the causes that you find in your lesson. It should take no more than a paragraph.Read your history lesson and then itemize the factors that led to Rome's fall. You could say something like "the final fall of ancient Rome was due to........" and list the causes that you find in your lesson. It should take no more than a paragraph.Read your history lesson and then itemize the factors that led to Rome's fall. You could say something like "the final fall of ancient Rome was due to........" and list the causes that you find in your lesson. It should take no more than a paragraph.Read your history lesson and then itemize the factors that led to Rome's fall. You could say something like "the final fall of ancient Rome was due to........" and list the causes that you find in your lesson. It should take no more than a paragraph.Read your history lesson and then itemize the factors that led to Rome's fall. You could say something like "the final fall of ancient Rome was due to........" and list the causes that you find in your lesson. It should take no more than a paragraph.


What social factors caused rome to fall?

The social division of the Roman empire caused the descent of the empire because they didnt believe Rome was worth saving. They were declined political rights, they could not serve in the army, and they could not group up to protect themselves from the unjust government.


But why did the roman empire fall?

Political factors: offices became viewed as burdens, military interfered with politics, civil war and unrest after the good emperors were gone, division of the empire, and moving the capitol to Byzantium (AKA Constantinople). Social factors: lack of interest in public affairs, low confidence, disloyalty, corruption, HUGE contrast between rich and poor, disease and food shortage. Economic factors: poor harvests, trade disruption, no war plunder, inflation, high taxes, and again HUGE gap between rich and poor. Military factors: invasion from tribes, low funds for defense, less and less soldiers, and low patriotism and loyalty to Rome. MOST important cause: Invasion by Germanic tribes and Huns.


Who led the Visigoths during the attack of Rome in 410 AD?

In the sack of Rome in 410 AD, the Visigoths were led by Alaric. There is a link to an article on the sack of Rome below.


What sequence of events led to the renaissance?

As Italy's city-states grew through trade and commerce they florished economically and intellectualy. This led to a revived interest in the art, social, scientific, and politacal ideas of ancient Greece and Rome.

Related questions

What was the social problem in ancient rome that led to the fall of it?

The social problems where that Rome was separated by Diocletian


What led to the final fall of rome how to answer in complet paragraph?

Read your history lesson and then itemize the factors that led to Rome's fall. You could say something like "the final fall of ancient Rome was due to........" and list the causes that you find in your lesson. It should take no more than a paragraph.Read your history lesson and then itemize the factors that led to Rome's fall. You could say something like "the final fall of ancient Rome was due to........" and list the causes that you find in your lesson. It should take no more than a paragraph.Read your history lesson and then itemize the factors that led to Rome's fall. You could say something like "the final fall of ancient Rome was due to........" and list the causes that you find in your lesson. It should take no more than a paragraph.Read your history lesson and then itemize the factors that led to Rome's fall. You could say something like "the final fall of ancient Rome was due to........" and list the causes that you find in your lesson. It should take no more than a paragraph.Read your history lesson and then itemize the factors that led to Rome's fall. You could say something like "the final fall of ancient Rome was due to........" and list the causes that you find in your lesson. It should take no more than a paragraph.Read your history lesson and then itemize the factors that led to Rome's fall. You could say something like "the final fall of ancient Rome was due to........" and list the causes that you find in your lesson. It should take no more than a paragraph.Read your history lesson and then itemize the factors that led to Rome's fall. You could say something like "the final fall of ancient Rome was due to........" and list the causes that you find in your lesson. It should take no more than a paragraph.Read your history lesson and then itemize the factors that led to Rome's fall. You could say something like "the final fall of ancient Rome was due to........" and list the causes that you find in your lesson. It should take no more than a paragraph.Read your history lesson and then itemize the factors that led to Rome's fall. You could say something like "the final fall of ancient Rome was due to........" and list the causes that you find in your lesson. It should take no more than a paragraph.


What does the fall of rome have to do with the Renaissance?

Nothing. There is a 1000 years difference between the two ages. The fall of Rome in 410 AD led to the middle ages which in turn led to the Renaissance.


What did Montesquieu believe led to the fall of Rome?

He concluded that Rome's Collapse was directly related to its loss of political liberties.


What was related to the fall of Rome?

i remember it by: S - slaves O - overspending L - land D -deases E - emprors R - religon these all led to the fall of rome - pk...


Did the assassination of Caesar have anything to do with the fall of Rome?

The assassination of Caesar did not lead to the fall of Rome. Ancient Rome continued to exist for more than 500 years after his death. His assassination precipitated events which led to the fall of the Roman Republic and its emplacement by 503 years of rule by emperors.


What social factors caused rome to fall?

The social division of the Roman empire caused the descent of the empire because they didnt believe Rome was worth saving. They were declined political rights, they could not serve in the army, and they could not group up to protect themselves from the unjust government.


Did bankruptcy cause Rome to fall?

sort of, there are alot of things that led to the fall. overspending of the goverment/ empror and people was one of the cases yes - pk...


How did Montesquieu believe led to the fall of Rome?

Montesquieu postulated that Rome's military might outweighed its dedication to civic responsibility and the costs of expansion undermined the Empire.


How did inferior technology lead to the fall of rome?

they failed to invent machines and it led to not able to provide growing population.


Which empire led rome at the time of its conquest?

There was not an empire which led Rome and there was not a conquest of Rome. Rome had an empire: the Roman Empire. Although the invasions by the Germanic peoples led to the fall of the western part of the Roman Empire, the city of Rome was never conquered. Ancient Rome was sacked by the Visigoths in 410 and by the Vandals in 455, but it was not conquered. Both Visigoths and Vandals withdrew after the sack. They did so before units of the Roman army from elsewhere in the Roman Empire would catch up with them.


Which of the causes for the fall of the maya do you think was most important?

There is no single cause for the fall of the Maya civilization, but factors such as environmental degradation, drought, overpopulation, warfare, and social conflicts have been identified as contributing to their decline. It is likely that a combination of these factors working together led to the collapse of the Maya civilization.