The Fall of the Western Roman Empire was the process of decline in the Western Roman Empire in which the Empire failed to enforce its rule, and its vast territory was divided into several successor polities.
The Late Roman Empire Architecture
TheFirst Roman Empire(ca. 0-200), also known as Pax Romana (“Roman Peace”), was the most prosperous and stable age of Roman history. Themasterpiecesof Roman architecture mainly date back to this period. However, theLate Roman Empire(ca. 200-500) had its share of magnificent buildings and is of particular interest as a transition phase to the Middle Ages.
With the decline of patronage, the economy, and the population there werefewer architects and engineerswith skill or experience. Over time much of this knowledge was lost and would not have been rediscovered in the West until the High Middle Ages and thereafter.
Image source:https://search.creativecommons.org/photos/70351cd0-0eb6-4413-a670-8fff9a96a149
Image source:https://search.creativecommons.org/photos/b2a73100-e9fa-44d6-9480-184ac3e67c77
Image source:https://search.creativecommons.org/photos/b8d20417-cc8d-4b43-985c-b4472fb4e6e2byJorge Lascar
The Architectural Landmarks of the Falling Empire
Overall Western Roman architecture peaked in the earlyPrincipate to the mid-Dominate(a period spanning roughly 40sBC-300sAD). This saw the construction of famous buildings and landmarks like theColosseum, thePantheon,Trajan’s ForumandColumn,and countless others.
TheFlavian Amphitheater, more commonly known as the Colosseum, was built by Emperors Vespasian and Titus of the Flavian Dynasty in the early Imperial period whileTrajan’s Forum,with his famous column, was built at the height of the Roman Empire right before its fall.
Finally, theArch of Constantinewas built during the very late Empire. It looks impressive enough, but many of its details were actuallytaken off older landmarksand cobbled back together on the Arch because artists and engineers simplydidn’t have the same expertiseas their earlier counterparts.
Image source:https://search.creativecommons.org/photos/993d315d-0e23-412a-a7e7-b8ba556e4785byUser:Alexander Z.
The Baths of Caracalla
The most ambitious building project of the Late Empire was the Baths of Caracalla. Baths were a standard feature of Roman cities, while the Baths of Caracalla werelarge and luxurious. In addition to the actual baths, the complex includedexercise rooms,swimming pools,classrooms, andlibraries. The interior wasrichly decoratedwith frescoes, sculptures, mosaics, and stuccos.
Image source:https://search.creativecommons.org/photos/08749186-d916-4d80-a8b5-aceb156c2d0abyteldridge+keldridge
How It Began
The Irreversible great territorial loss began in 376 witha large-scale raid by Goths and other tribes. Other barbarian groups crossed the Rhine and other frontiers of the empire, and finally, the invading army reached the outskirts of Rome, left undefended. In410 C.E., theVisigoths, led by Alaric,breached the walls of Romeand sacked and burned the capital of the Roman Empire.
For the first time in nearly a millennium, the city of Rome was in the hands of someone other than the Romans.
Image source:https://it.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sack_of_Rome_by_the_Visigoths_on_24_August_410_by_JN_Sylvestre_1890.jpg
The Causes Behind the Fall
In公元476年9月,the last Western Roman emperor,Romulus Augustulus, was deposed by a Germanic prince namedOdovacar, who had gained control of the remnants of the Roman army of Italy.
The Roman Empire had lost its strength, modern historians mention factors including theeffectivenessandnumber of the army, thehealth, and numbers of the Romanpopulation, thestrength of the economy, the competence of the Emperors,internal strugglesfor power, the religious changes, and theefficiency of the civil administration. The growing pressure of the invading barbarians also contributed greatly to the collapse.
Image source:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Migration_Period#/media/File:Invasions_of_the_Roman_Empire_1.png
The Historical Relevance
For many commentators, the fall of Romemarked the death knell of education and literacy, sophisticated architecture, advanced economic interaction and, the written rule of law.
“黑暗时代”,因为是黑色的se of thewritten sources that were fewand far between, but becauselife became ugly, brutal, and short.
However, other commentators saw the ‘dark ages’ as a more necessary evil – Rome had to fall to destroyslavery on a large scaleand make possible a world that valued all human beings more fairly.
In both cases, the end of the Empire was neverthelessan important event in human history.
Image source:https://search.creativecommons.org/photos/a4004b57-9a51-46f4-8296-00cf0417570e
Info sources:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/fallofrome_article_01.shtml
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fall_of_the_Western_Roman_Empire
http://www.ushistory.org/civ/6f.asp
