Economics: Why Did Rome`s Empire Decline - Two Provocative Explanations

 

(Drivebycuriosity) - The history of Rome is still fascinating. There are so many theories & explanations about rise & decline of the ancient super power. I want to add two more theories about Rome`s fall, which may be provocative, but they are both based on historical observations & logic. It is interesting that Rome´s decline went along with two developments: Global cooling and the rise of Christianity. Did they cause it?

The historian Greg Woolf describes in his book "Rome - An Empire´s Story" (amazon) how climate changes have influenced Rome`s rise and fall: Rome`s ascent was accompanied by a warmer climate which permitted better crops that could feed more people; the decline occurred in a chilling period which reduced the food supply and caused flu epidemics. A colder climate might also have inspired northern tribes to move south and to invade Rome. Kyle Harper, another historian, also sees a connection between a cooling period, called a “little ice age”, with the fall of Rome  (amazon   spectator).

But a cooling climate alone surely didn`t destroy Rome´s power. There was another and a much powerful development: The rise of Christianity. Rome´s status was based on military power, administrative skills & technological progress (as described in "SPQR - A History Of Ancient Rome" driveby ). The Romans conquered cities & nations and then they integrated them into their empire by granting their people citizenship. Rome also manifested her power by developing & extending an impressive infrastructure, like streets, aqueducts, harbors and more.

The early Christian´s did not care much about Rome´s status & power. They focused more on the afterlife, many even sacrificed their lives for their faith. Martyrs and the like were not a good foundation for Rome`s economy and for maintaining the empire. The Christians didn`t cause an abrupt change, but their slow rise after emperor Constantine´s regime  (306 - 337 AD) shifted the priorities and slowly eroded the Roman system. It seems that Constantine, the first  Roman emperor who converted to Christianity, was more interested in building churches than in constructing & maintaining streets, aqueducts and other infrastructure (wikipedia). He also split the Roman empire into two pieces, by moving the imperial residence to Byzantium (today Istanbul), so weakening the empire even more. The early Christians also were pacifists and they were less willing to defend Rome against the northern tribes who got it easier to overrun the city state.

Is it a coincidence that all of Europe declined and drifted into a deep economic & cultural darkness - and Rome`s streets, harbors, aqueducts and other infrastructure fell apart - while the power of the Christian Church rose? Ís it a coincidence that Europe suffered her darkest period - the middle ages  - when the Church and their Popes reached their climax? Then, science and development were called "blasphemy" and punished by the inquisition, stalling all progress.  Is it a coincidence that Europe´s economy & culture began slowly to recover (Renaissance) as the Reformation started and the power of the church became weaker? Is it a coincidence that science - which led to the industrial revolution - began to evolve as Europe disempowered the Church in the 19th century (secularization)?

I plan to write more on this topic in the coming months. Stay tuned.