The Fall of Rome
Objective:
* Using the information and links provided
on the slides answer the 5 questions to
analyze how these theories correlate to
the problems in the United States today?
The Fall of Rome
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Barbarian Invasions
Decline in Morals and Values
Environmental and Public Health Problems
Excessive Military Spending to Defend the Empire
Inferior Technology
Inflation
Political Corruption
Rise in Christianity
Unemployment
Urban Decay
Slide 1: Military Spending
Rome
• Increased to defend borders
against barbarian attacks.
• In later years of the empire,
they relied on mercenaries.
• Farmers and businessmen
paid higher taxes for military.
• Left fewer resources for
roads, housing, etc.
http://www.usfederalbudget.us/federal_bud
get_detail_fy12bs12013n
U.S.
• Even with 1-2 Billion in cuts
•Spending = 23% of budget (up
•3% since 2009) 868.1 Billion
• Education: 118.1 Billion(3% of
budget
• Defense projected to go up to
over 9 billion by 2015
Slide 2: Political Corruption
Rome
• No effective way to elect
new Emperors. (4 ways)
• Began selling the throne to
highest bidder.
• 37 Emperors in 100 years.
(25 killed by assassination)
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U.S.
“Read my lips, no new taxes”
Richard Nixon: Watergate 72’
Governor Blagojevich:
Selling Obama’s senate seat.
Senator Stevens:
Accepting bribes.
“I am
not a
crook!”
Slide 3: Inferior Technology
Rome
• No new technological
innovations in later years.
• Failure of new inventions
meant they couldn’t
provide for the growing
population.
• Relied heavily on human
and animal labor.
U.S.
• Automobile Industry’s
is on the rise
http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtir
es/2012/01/why-2012-couldbe-the-year-of-the-us-autoindustry.html
Products made abroad,USA
creates ideas
http://www.nytimes.com/page
s/technology/index.html
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Slide 4: Inflation
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Rome
Stopped conquering new
lands meant no new gold.
Gold spent on luxury items
meant less gold in coins.
Merchants raised prices
due to lesser value of coins.
Coins were replaced by a
system of barter.
U.S.
•The inflation rate in USA was
1.70 percent in 12/2012
http://www.tradingeconomics.co
m/united-states/inflation-cpi
Avg price of milk in ‘12 was
$3.67 in 1990 was $1.47
Slide 5: Unemployment
Rome
• Cheaper for farmers to use
slaves then pay workmen.
• Other farms could not
compete with lower prices
and lost or sold their farms
creating latifundias.
• Thousands of unemployed
in the cities.(proletariats)
U.S.
•Predicted to rise
•Decline of Union jobs in
manufacturing industries.
• Recession equals layoffs.
http://www.forecasts.org/une
mploy.htm
Slide 6: Urban Decay
U.S.
Rome
• Violent crimes, drug
• Most citizens lived in
addiction, unsanitary
insulaes that were hot and
conditions, and homelessness.
dirty.
• 3.5 Million Americans
• Those who couldn’t pay
experience homelessness in a
rent were forced out to the
given year. (1% of population)
crime infested streets.
http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/5
26/homeless-facts.html
Slide 7: Decline in Morals
Rome
• Increase in crimes and
violence.
• Emperors wasted money on
lavish parties. Guests ate and
drank until they became ill.
• Passion for Gladiatorial
Games.
U.S.
•Increase in crime.
• Movies, music, and TV
glorify sex and violence.
• Children cannot distinguish
from right and wrong.
(Columbine-Sandy Hook)
http://www.cbsnews.com/830
1-201_16257564071/suviving-sandyhook-kids-record-song-forcharity/