It hurt the trading of cultural ideas and products. This effected western civilization because it was hard to trade concepts and new technology that had been created. Trading had become very dangerous for everyone. Independent land owners had stopped respecting Rome’s central authority and had grown harsh toward the tax collectors, mainly in the Western Empire. Wealth became more about controlling large agricultural properties, and less about using and respecting civil authority. This led to people of the empire losing political and economic status to the people who controlled the larger estates, and the middle class people who made a living off of …show more content…
Currency had lost its importance, and was replaced with bartering. This effected every part of the Roman life. The Empire had become dark, and without hope. In the midst of barbaric invasions, crushing taxations, and unstable rulers, there was a light at the end of the tunnel. Roman Emperor Aurelian, who ruled from 270-275 AD, was able to bring the empire back together under his ruling. However, reuniting the empire did not stop the attacks. Because of Diocletian’s idea of tetrarchy in 284 AD, for the next couple of decades Rome could now be more established. Although some damages had been repaired, there was still a mess on the Empire’s hands. For ten years, the province of Britain wouldn’t cooperate and finally declared its independence under Carausius. In 308 AD, Diocletian’s death began a civil war until 324 AD, when Constantine rose to power. Roman society became notably divided into social classes. The poor refused to be a part of local government, which had become so expensive it was almost destroyed. Laws and internal orders became humorous, and foreigners invaded Roman territory, robbing and killing civilians. The citizens were also treated poorly by Roman