Hist 115 Term Paper

The decline of classical civilizations can be attributed to numerous factors such as internal conflicts, decreased size of armies, revolts, corruption, population decreases, declining tax revenues, economic decline, climate change, and external invasions. However, the one important factor that was instrumental in the decline and collapse was epidemic diseases which may have killed up to half of the population.

The spread of epidemic diseases in the Roman Empire resulted in a shrinking population which had an adverse effect on trade, army recruiting, tax revenue, political instability, and a shift in religious values. The importing and exporting of goods, animals and people along the Silk Roads and sea routes not only brought much needed and wanted goods; with it also came unfamiliar diseases and barbarians. Without the resistance, immunity, or medicines; widespread death and chaos resulted. Emperors and upper classes enjoyed a luxurious and extravagant lifestyle at the expense of the tax paying citizen and became more self-centered and less concerned about social and political responsibilities. This caused a decline in influence and great resentment among the lower classes. Political instability meant centralized government became weaker and because of growing difficulty protecting its borders from invaders; farmers and laborers began looking for protection from regional landlords which corrupted the political stability of the empire. Increased taxes were far too burdensome on the peasantry, which led to social unrest, decline of patriotism, and distrust of rulers resulting in emperors having less ability to rule and disputes over succession led to continual army intervention known as the barracks emperors.

Some emperors tried to restore central authority. Diocletian divided the empire into two administrative districts known as the eastern and western districts. He assigned co-emperors to manage the districts and his efforts improved...