Period 3 Fall of Rome DBQ The Roman Empire, a once flourishing and powerful society, which reigned from the years 395 AD to 476 AD, would soon collapse. For several years the empire was bombarded with several issues which would ultimately lead to its downfall. After many years of corruption, struggle, and destruction Rome took its final blow in 476 AD. The German leader Odoacer staged a revolt, Romulus Augustus, the final Roman emperor, was forced to renounce his efforts and Odoacer took control of Italy. This was the final component of a lengthy chain reaction. The fall of the Western Roman Empire was brought up as a result of a plethora of factors. However, the political issues which took place within the empire were a direct cause of the empire’s fall. The empire was brought down from the inside, as the political factors which it faced led to an internal chaos, lack of organization and divided empire. With its vast territory, influential trade routes and endless impacts on the world the Roman Empire compared to no other. However, one of the empire’s breaking points would be the lack of organization which would eat away at the empire. The Roman Empire expanded so greatly it is known today as one of the largest empires in the ancient world, inhabiting 50 to 90 million people. To govern over such a significantly large region and population, great organization is needed to keep society in order. This was one of the major factors that the empire lacked, mere organization would be one of the factors which contributed to its fall. The people were pushed away from political matters and their every move was in the hands of corrupt leaders who were not aware or chose to disregard the chaos they were spreading across the empire. The empire could not organize, it could not support a military, it was unable to have a stable economy. (Document 1) The author’s purpose in writing this document is to show the effects of the disorganization in the empire. This disorganization arose from the political conflicts which were taking place within the empire. As those in power attempted to grow themselves wealthier the people did not have the means to survive. Chaos reigned throughout the empire, for the power of the few. Ultimately the fall of Rome was inevitable due to its size. (Document 2) Its size alone was a factor to consider when determining the causes of the fall of the empire. However, the main issue was the fact that this vast territory could not be effectively governed. The leaders could not organize the many people, the many micro economies, the trade routes, and a great deal of other matters. The methods of dividing power were typically careless and ineffective. For such an empire to survive organization had to be a top priority yet this need was pushed to the side. This lack of organization could have easily been avoided with the proper political actions and governance. Despite this those who had power over the common people had their own interests as the main priority. The Western Roman Empire would fall as a result of the internal issues caused by the lack of a strong political system. Although it is argued that religion was one of the major factors which led to the fall of the Roman empire., the true root of the issue between religion and the empire arose from the instability of political ideas and the lack of unity throughout the empire. Based on the information provided in Document 4 it can be established that, the government eliminated individualistic ideas and took responsibility over all affairs. The people left with no voice, no valid opinion, were in a place of weakness. They were no longer the once self-reliant and initiative people. The author’s purpose in writing this document was to demonstrate how the people of the Roman empire were impacted by the political influence of the government. Throughout the document the author demonstrates this by showing the little motivation the people had for the empire as a result of factors like taxation and the elimination of private enterprise. They were rid of their businesses and private ideas. The power the people once held was stripped away, their unity shattered, and all this for the arbitrary power of the government rather than the positive development of the empire. Despite the people’s efforts to remain in unity amongst themselves their efforts were not enough to overcome the lack of unity which the empire faced as a whole. The introduction of religion further severed the already inadequate relationship between the government and the people as a direct result of the political issues at hand. The idea of a new religion that was accepted by the people yet disapproved by the government magnified the distinct differences between those in power and the common. Above the ideas of the majority were the ideas of the few. These political conflicts could be observed not only in religious matters but in all subjects which “involved” the people. Emperors placed their own individual ideas on an altar to be submitted to in all ways. How could a society where the views of the many were ignored, viewed as less than, thrown to the side, prevail in times of hardship? Without the people an empire cannot succeed. The emperors disregarded the need for unity and focused on power and political concerns. The empire was unable to unite due to the many political matters that were mishandled by the power-seeking emperors and government officials. Of the many emperors who ruled the Western Roman Empire few made significant impacts toward the bettering of the empire. The lack of rulers who truly understood the position which they would take up, was one of the major factors which led to the collapse of the empire. The Roman emperor Diocletian was a prime example of emperors placing power over effective leading. While the West failed to maintain itself and fell from great wealth to poverty, Diocletian focused on increasing the East’s wealth (Document 6). The West was left to fend for itself, without a leader to help it remain in its position of success and prosperity. The author’s purpose in writing Document 6 is to demonstrate the effects of ineffective governance. This further elucidates the fact that without a strong leader an empire cannot succeed or persevere in the face of hardship. Diocletian’s actions are just one example of the many absentminded conflicts caused by incompetent “leaders”. Emperors further damaged the integrity of the empire by placing the increasing of power above the overall benefit of the country. Rather than aiming for the availability of jobs for Roman citizens, emperors allowed and encouraged the use of slaves for labor. Neither the slaves nor citizen benefitted from this, however it continued for the wealth and power of the emperor (Document 3). These decisions which were thrown around irrationally were not that of people who were true leaders, they were ideas of self-seeking and unfit actors who played the role of emperor. Rome alike to many other empires, came to its fall by its own means rather than that of external enemies (Document 5). The empire began its decay from its very center. There was no leader to bring the people together, nor establish a successful economy nor overcome the obstacles which it faced. There was no foundation, no true strength. The empire was held together by mere strings which were near snapping. For an empire to prosper it is vital for it to possess a leader which can effectively govern over such a vast community. The emperor is one who is looked to in search of guidance, organization, hope. Yet many of the Roman emperors were nowhere near the leader which such this empire required to continue to prosper.