5 Lessons America Must Learn from the fall of the Roman Empire
Are we destined to repeat the past?
The fall of the Roman Empire is one of the most talked about events in history. Many theories have been proposed regarding what caused the empire to fall and why it was so vulnerable to collapse, but most agree that the fall was due to multiple internal and external factors working together.
I believe that America is extremely vulnerable to collapse as well, and we should be watching out for many of the same issues that ultimately brought down Rome if we are to avoid a similar fate. If America wants to avoid ending up like Rome, we must learn from its mistakes and find solutions to these problems before it’s too late.
Don’t let bureaucracy infiltrate your government
It’s easy to assume that Rome fell because its legions got weak, or because it failed to keep up with technological innovations. Actually, though, Rome began to decline in what we call today the third century crisis.
That was when a bureaucratic establishment emerged and started to use government institutions for their own benefit. The army and many other government operations were plagued by corruption and cronyism.
It wasn’t long before barbarians took advantage of Rome’s woes, plundering and burning towns that had been essential in supplying food for Rome itself. After 400 years as one of history’s greatest empires, ancient Rome ceased to exist and it hasn’t even been around for 2,000 years yet.
Don’t let foreign cultures overtake your morals
Whenever your nation’s culture diverges too much from that of its allies and neighboring countries, you become vulnerable to attack. When Rome expanded beyond Italy, it met with fierce opposition from Germanic tribes who felt threatened by Rome’s tactics.
Eventually, these tribes banded together and attacked Rome on all fronts. Such a devastating assault could never have happened if Rome had focused on keeping its own moral compass intact instead of trying to force its way into foreign territories.
Government corruption and political instability
The Romans were ruled by a handful of powerful men whose authority relied on brute force. Government officials, including generals and senators, routinely abused their power for personal gain and to further political agendas.
The abuse culminated in civil war. The corruption reached so deeply into the Roman society that historians have compared it to modern-day organized crime rings that bribe government officials for protection and use violence to silence dissenters.
Obviously, we haven’t yet descended into anarchy, but how much longer will we be able to avoid taking a long look at where things might lead?
Use diplomacy to avoid war (but be ready if it happens)
War is costly. Not only does it result in human casualties and often leaves countries devastated, but even modern warfare can be ruinously expensive. In 1945, for example, World War II cost an estimated $4 trillion in 2015 dollars (around $400 billion) and U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower argued that even a small war would cost $100 billion (around $1 trillion today).
As such, diplomacy has always been vital to conflict resolution and one of America’s greatest strengths. U.S. led diplomacy has helped avert many conflicts around the world over recent decades, including in Iraq and Kosovo during President George W. Bush’s administration and in Bosnia during President Bill Clinton’s term with European leaders.
Christianity and the loss of traditional values
Throughout its existence, there has been a continual struggle between Christianity and traditional values. Early Christians were persecuted for refusing to worship Caesar; today, many people want to remove all traces of religion from public life.
For example, as I write about gun violence in my home state of Illinois, there are rumblings about removing In God We Trust and other religious-themed emblems from public buildings. The good news is that our legal system will protect us; it’s a more serious threat to our nation than those who disagree with religion would like you to believe.
Conclusion
Many point to signs of decay in today’s United States, particularly economic stagnation and rampant corruption, to support their claim that we are heading down a path similar to Rome’s. Some historians even suggest that we may have already reached or surpassed certain collapse points (such as general infrastructure failure).
However, I believe those who say we are too far gone are missing something critical. Although many people within our society experience financial hardship and political corruption on a regular basis, most still enjoy their lives and feel that they have opportunities for advancement.
As long as these conditions exist within American society, I think it is too early to sound an alarm about its survival. What do you think, are we headed for disaster?
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