World Affairs Board - View Single Post

Triple C · 11-09-2007, 02:11 AM

To elaborate one of Kansas Bear's points, the Roman agriculture relied on collectivized slave labor. Living in barack-like environment the slaves could not reporduce at a rate that kept up with their death rate. In other words the slave population could only dwindle if it was not replenished by foreign conquests. As they were forced to adopt to a defensive posture, the economy stagnated. The urban populus survived on state pension of pork, dough and cash--which would not be forthcoming without victorious and profitable wars. At the same time, the aristocrats that owned all of the land didn't pay much taxes. And the system of tax farmers was horrible for the revenue and prestige of the state, for very obvious reasons. Rome required constant expansion to fuel its economy, but its ability to generate armies was eventually overwhelmed by the empire's size. Rome ran out of rich neighbors to conquer, and ran out of the troops needed to protect itself.

I don't think Christianity per se was a cause for the fall of Rome, though the fabulously wealthy and tax-exempt ecclesiastic church very well could be.

11-09-2007, 02:11 AM	#37 (permalink)
Triple C Contributor Join Date: 04-10-06 Posts: 680	To elaborate one of Kansas Bear's points, the Roman agriculture relied on collectivized slave labor. Living in barack-like environment the slaves could not reporduce at a rate that kept up with their death rate. In other words the slave population could only dwindle if it was not replenished by foreign conquests. As they were forced to adopt to a defensive posture, the economy stagnated. The urban populus survived on state pension of pork, dough and cash--which would not be forthcoming without victorious and profitable wars. At the same time, the aristocrats that owned all of the land didn't pay much taxes. And the system of tax farmers was horrible for the revenue and prestige of the state, for very obvious reasons. Rome required constant expansion to fuel its economy, but its ability to generate armies was eventually overwhelmed by the empire's size. Rome ran out of rich neighbors to conquer, and ran out of the troops needed to protect itself. I don't think Christianity per se was a cause for the fall of Rome, though the fabulously wealthy and tax-exempt ecclesiastic church very well could be. __________________ What benefits the body is called medicine; what benefits the soul, discipline. -Augustine of Hippo Last edited by Triple C : 11-09-2007 at 02:20 AM.