The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire

-Aritra Biswas

Roman Empire consisted of one of the largest civilizations ever in the world history. Rome was a small town founded in the heart of Italy but grew over the centuries to conquer most parts of Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia. Its emergence was due to well organized military structure, good governance and integration of cultures whereas its downfall was due to internal drawbacks and external threats that were on the rise. The Roman Empire history is a good source of information about the ways in which the great nations become influential and then cease to exist.

The history of Rome and the Roman Republic

The origins of Rome are a mixture of a legend and historical facts. By custom, the city was established in 753 BCE by Romulus. During the initial stages, Rome was under the leadership of kings who put down in place religious practices and rudimentary political structures. Nevertheless, monarchy was not satisfied or even satisfied and was dethroned in 509 BCE resulting to the birth of the Roman Republic.

A system of shared power was also brought in by the republic whereby power was shared between elected magistrates, Senate and popular assemblies. This system barred the accumulation of power and promoted civic engagement. It gave political stability and Rome was able to grow steadily in the Italian peninsula.

Growth and Military might

The emergence of Rome was directly connected with its military power. The Roman legions were highly trained, disciplined as well as flexible which provided Rome with an upper hand over its adversaries. Rome spread its power outside Italy through a sequence of battles, which it won against the adjoining territories.

The Punic Wars with Carthage was one of the most important occurrences in the life of Rome. These wars enabled Rome to emerge as the leader in the Mediterranean. Rome was not going to govern only by force but enjoyed an inclusion policy where they welcomed limited or full citizenships to the conquered countries. This strategy minimized opposition and served to bring the empire together.

The Rise of Empire and Crisis of the Republic

As Rome became more prosperous and great, acute issues were occasioned. The rich got rich and concentrated in the hands of a few elites, and small farmers were left down trodden economically. Mighty generals were loyal to the armies and not to the state, which resulted into the political instability and even the civil wars.

A turning point was the ascendancy of Julius Caesar. He achieved military victories and was popular, which caused the alarm of the senate, and when he crossed the Rubicon River in 49 BCE a civil war broke out. Even though Caesar prevailed, he was assassinated in 44 BCE and this left Rome in more turmoil. Later on, his adopted successor, Octavian, conquered anyone who stood in his path and became the first emperor in 27 BCE under the name Augustus. This was the termination of the Republic and the commencement of the Roman Empire.

The Golden Age: Pax Romana

Augustus rule was characterized by peace and prosperity called the Pax Romana. The period was also characterized by political stability, economic growth and cultural development and lasted almost 200 years. The empire became greatest in terms of territorial size and Roman power was well established.

Trade was thriving because of the roads and sea routes that were well maintained. The empire saw the growth of cities with attractions such as bathhouses, theatres and forums. The Roman law was able to provide order and monumental architecture represented imperial might. This was the time of the greatest Roman civilization.

Roman Society, “Administration”

the administrative system was powerful on the Roman Empire. Governors governed provinces and had the role of law, taxation and defense. The emperor was the ultimate power but was relying on the bureaucrats and the local elites to run the day to day activities.

The Roman society was stratified with empirors and aristocracy on the top closely followed by citizens, freedmen and the slaves. Even though social inequality was present, the Roman citizenship was characterized by legal rights and protection. With time the citizenship was expanded to the individuals all across the empire, which enhanced loyalty and unity.

Domestic Decadence and Economic ills

Since the third century of the Common Era, the empire started to be weakened. The political instability was heightened in the fact that emperors were constantly replaced by military rulers. The economic issues of inflation, high taxation and deteriorating trade brought pressure on the resources of the empire.

Corruption was spread and the allegiance to the state diluted. The Roman army became more dependent on mercenaries, and it lowered the discipline and effectiveness. These domestic issues played out slowly weakening the empire.

Outsourcing and Competition

Rome had increasing external threats as the internal weaknesses increased. Germanic people including the Visigoths and Vandals stormed Roman lands. Rome was sacked by the Visigoths in 410 CE and this dealt a harsh psychological shock. The city was subsequently taken over by the Vandals in 455 CE.

This empire was also attacked by the Huns led by Attila whose invasion destroyed vast territories. The stretched borders of Rome coupled with the military weakened Rome and it became even harder to fight to defend its realms.

The decline of Western Roman Empire

The Germanic Odoacer deposed the last Roman emperor, Romulus Augustulus, in 476 CE. This is considered to be the downfall of the Western Roman Empire. Nevertheless, the Roman culture and institutions did not disappear overnight.

The Byzantine Empire was also Eastern Roman Empire that remained to exist close to one thousand years, saving the Roman law, culture, and education. This reveals that the fall of Rome was a slow process and not an abrupt one.

The Conclusion: The Legacy of Rome

The decline and the rise of the Roman Empire had a strong imprint on the world history. Modern societies are still affected by Roman law, governance, architecture and language. The legend of Rome emphasizes the value of institutions that are strong, togetherness and flexibility as long term stability. Even the history of the world, with its most significant empires, is a potent reminder that even the most powerful ones cannot avoid the process of decline.