Fall of the Roman Empire
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Fall of the Roman Empire
What was the most important reason for the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD?
Fahad Farhan
Research Papper, Suffolk County Community College
HIS 101: Europe and the World from Antiquity to the Early Modern Era
Dr. Professor Conway
Assignment Due: December 18
th
, 2023
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What was the most important reason for the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD?
The fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD was a complex and multifaceted event with a combination of long-term and short-term factors contributing to its decline. From Heichelheim Article, out of the most factors I chose to write my point by shedding some light on the Aristocratic value system of ancient society and how it played a major part in the fall of Rome. The author makes the case for the fall of the Western Roman Empire primarily by attributing it to
the aristocratic value system of ancient society. The central argument is that the aristocratic ideal,
rooted in both Greek and Roman societies, emphasized a lifestyle of cultured ease for independently wealthy large landowners. This ideal, perpetuated by the aristocracy, led to a disdain for practical occupations and a lack of focus on technological innovation. The author argues that this attitude ultimately weakened the economic and productive foundations of the empire.
The aristocratic value system is said to have influenced not only societal attitudes but also the educational system. The emphasis on liberal arts education, geared towards the verbal and abstract intellectual skills, further discouraged the application of abstract thought to practical economic ends. The author contends that this contributed to a lack of interest in making work easier and labor more productive.
Moreover, the author argues that the aristocracy benefited from the absence of technological innovation as it kept the lower classes dependent on them. The aristocrats, in turn, gained status
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and power through patronage, illustrated by examples such as Vespasian's refusal to use a labor-
saving crane in building the Colosseum to employ more poor people.
The aristocratic concept of the city is also criticized as economically counterproductive. The aristocrats, dominating the ancient city, focused on political power, patronage, and intellectual pursuits rather than fostering economic development. Monuments such as triumphal arches, temples, theaters, and baths were seen as displays of power and status but did not contribute to the economic prosperity of the empire.
The author further contends that the pursuit of power, fame, and glory by aristocrats contributed to political instability and civil wars, weakening the empire. The temptation to become emperor and achieve the highest levels of power led to internal strife. Simultaneously, the concentration of power in the hands of the emperor caused some aristocrats to neglect public duties, cultivating
private wealth and armies that weakened the central government and exacerbated economic problems.
The author also notes that those who were not born into the aristocracy emulated their ideals by seeking high positions in the imperial army or bureaucracy. The pursuit of wealth through oppression and corruption by those in positions of military and political power led to further alienation of the productive middle and lower classes, worsening the empire's manpower shortage and economic issues.
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While the author presents a compelling argument about the role of the aristocratic value system in the fall of the Western Roman Empire, it's essential to recognize that historical events are often
multifaceted and interconnected. The author acknowledges the complexity of the causes and their
interactions, highlighting those various factors contributed to the disintegration of the Mediterranean-wide Roman Empire. Additionally, the author draws a distinction between the Western and Eastern parts of the empire, suggesting that the East's defensibility, population, and prosperity allowed it to endure and evolve into the Byzantine Empire.
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REFERENCES
Schnee, C. (2016). Images of weakness and the fall of Rome – an analysis of reputation management’s impact on political history.
Management & Organizational History
,
11
(1), 1–
18.
https://doi.org/10.1080/17449359.2015.1131166