Economic Constriction In Europe After The Fall Of The Roman Empire

Submitted By isabelelayne
Words: 769
Pages: 4
Open Document
Isabel Garcia 10/26/14

What was the nature of the economic Constriction in Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire? Where and how was the economy still functioning? What were the impediments to economic development? After the collapse of the Roman Empire, Europe underwent a long and harsh period of economic constriction. The noted date of the fall of the Roman Empire is when Germen general Odoacer overthrew the last Roman emperor in the West in 476. This event has come to symbolize all that had been characterized as Roman civilization declining, weakening and disappearing. There was no established large centralized rule. Europe experienced a large amount of economic constriction following the collapse of the Roman Empire, although, there was one place where economy continued to prosper, the church. Holding mostly all funds, the church and the feudal system were able to keep Europe afloat economically, but was also the impediment preventing economic development. Before and after 476, during the time of the fall of the Roman Empire, Europe began to experience economic constriction. Western Europe went from being a very large and prosperous society to practically having to start from scratch. With a population decrease of about 25 percent, Rome’s height was roughly 1 million people, and by the end of the tenth century it numbered around 10,000. With this major regression, there was no one to maintain the city. Buildings began to collapse from lack of care and maintenance. Lots of Western Europe’s long distance trade routes vanished as Roman roads deteriorated due to lack of funds. The act of barter replaced the no longer established currency and Illiteracy also, became more common as certain groups of barbaric peoples such as, the Visigoths, the Franks, the Lombard’s, the Saxons, the Goths and the Angels slowly became the dominant peoples of Western Europe. Western Europe had become what it most loathed. Following the downfall of the Roman Empire, the Church was the only power with economic stability. A highly fractured and decentralized society, known as feudalism arose creating an organization of power, property and rights. The European world at that time was a very dangerous and insecure place where, with the absence of Roman authority, people relied on the protection from the individuals they were in debt to, the landowners. Later known as Roman Catholic, the church also created a stable environment, but only for those willing to convert and follow the terms of the church itself. Its hierarchal arrangement of priests, monasteries, bishops and popes represented and followed some systems of the original Roman Empire. The systems include the administrative, political, educational and welfare functions the Empire relied on. The church subsequently became very wealthy. It provided a type of springboard for the conversion of many “pagan” peoples. The Church had a sense of unlimited power as it controlled the base of all economy. Ordinary people followed their rulers into
Show More

Related Documents: Economic Constriction In Europe After The Fall Of The Roman Empire

Essay on Fall of the Roman Republic

The Fall of The Roman Republic The Ancient Roman Republics downfall can be linked to the corruption of the government. Conflicts of the government powers lead the government to become inefficient thusly leading to its fall. The Roman Constitution was unwritten; it was more of a collection of oral traditions and laws that was passed down, and over time parts became vague and undefined. Being that they weren’t written down lead to conflicts of interpretation and obstruction of the traditions…

Words 686 - Pages 3

Fall Of The Roman Empire Essay

For hundreds of years, The Roman Empire was the most powerful empire in existence. At its peak, The Roman Empire, stretched over a large part of Europe, Northern Africa, and the Middle East. They were extremely great conquerors with a very disciplined and well-organized military that expanded their rule even further by accepting the citizens of the conquered territories and making them Roman citizens. They had advanced technology, flourishing trade and commerce, unmatched culture, and strong leadership…

Words 1285 - Pages 6

Fall Of Roman Empire Essay

The fall of Roman Empire In the late fourth century, the Roman Empire collapsed after 500 years of rule as one of the greatest empire.It is considered to have “fallen” in 476, when Rome’s last emperor was deposed. According to historians, there were many reasons why the empire felt. However ,the main reasons were political instability, barbarian tribes and the rise of the Eastern Empire. The Roman Empire never created a system to determine the new emperor would be selected. The choice…

Words 664 - Pages 3

Fall Of Roman Empire Essay

To this day, the Roman Empire was one of the vastest and most immense empires the western world has ever seen. The fall of the once gigantic empire is a widely discussed era amongst modern day historians. There continues to be debate about the catalysts for the downfall of Rome. Despite this, research indicates that there are perhaps three main aspects that prompted the empire’s deterioration. The empire was so vast and expansive that the government could not communicate quickly enough and provide…

Words 693 - Pages 3

Fall Of The Roman Empire Essay

reasons for the “fall”, or the end when the Roman Empire is no more, of the Western Roman Empire. There are many causes in the fall of Rome, but corruption in the government, Rome developing a “soft belly”, and military weakness are the main causes. Roman life and culture dominated Western Europe for centuries, as its armies swept across the Mediterranean world. The Roman’s accomplishments gained them respect throughout the world. That all changed; however, between 350 – 500 A.D. when Romans were challenged…

Words 730 - Pages 3

The Republic: The Fall Of The Roman Republic

The Fall of the Roman Republic In the Roman Republic there were many problems with the city of Rome between 58 BCE to 44 BCE. The most famous problem is when Julius Caesar got stabbed over and over again. This event happened on March 15, 44 BCE because Julius’ council did not like how he gave citizenship to the Roman territories. This led to the fall of the Roman Republic because Julius was favored by the plebeians, and this angered them. This event is one of the main reasons that the Roman Republic…

Words 178 - Pages 1

Diseases And The Fall Of The Roman Empire

Romes Fall I think the 3 most effective issues to help destroy the Roman Empire are military weakness/foreign invasions, natural disasters/diseases, and weak leadership. military's are supposed to help protect the Roman Empire, and if they don't, foreign countries/cities will invade while destroying and stealing Romes territory/property. Natural disasters also help with the fall of Rome because they can easily destroy buildings, and kill large populations of people. The bigger the disaster, the…

Words 322 - Pages 2

The Rise And Fall Of The Roman Empire

The Roman Empire is often regarded as one of the greatest civilizations ever established. During its approximate 1,200-year reign from 753 B.C.E through 476 C.E. (McKay 173), it established what are now modern day governments and an all-new religious practice. “Military disasters, folk migrations, hit-and-run raids across the frontiers, external and internal rebellions, civil wars, bankruptcy, famines and plagues, were recurrent and familiar events in the history of Rome” (Southern 4). However…

Words 464 - Pages 2

The Fall of the Roman Republic Essay

Carlos Campbell Fall of the Roman Republic After Rome’s conquest of the central Mediterranean from 387 BCE to 146 BCE there republic slowly fell due to many factors from these conquest including spoils of war, increase of population the militarization of politics, and the lack of a written constitution. Rome went into a number of wars against the trading city of Carthage from 264 BCE to 146 BCE. During this time Rome suffered a number of losses during this time but unless you take…

Words 723 - Pages 3

The Roman Republican Structure: The Fall Of The Roman Republic

The Roman republican structure was established with holding two monarchical elements on top of the government pyramid – two consuls who lead for elected period of one year, on an occasion they would elect a dictator who received a sole power and almost tyrannical rights for the period of his election. The First Triumvirate was an unofficial contract between two of the consuls and one official: Pompey, Grassus and Caesar, who decided that the existing stage of government system is over corrupt and…

Words 232 - Pages 1