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===The Beginnings of the Roman Republic===

===The Beginnings of the Roman Republic===

The Roman empire recieved its name from its western capital, Rome, which was the first city of the empire, dating back as early as the 8th century B.C.  Dorians had invaded Greece around 1000 B.C. and forced it into a Dark Age; some [[Greeks]] fled to the Italian peninsula and named the region "Italy".  By legend, in 753 B.C. two brothers named Romulus and Remus founded the city of Rome on the Tiber River, 15 miles inland from the Tyrrhenian Sea of the Mediterranean Sea.  According to legend, the boys were descendants of Aeneas, who was a refugee of the mythical Trojan War featured in the masterpiece of Greek literature, "The Illiad," and their father was the god Mars.  Abandoned as babies and thrown into the Tiber River by their jealous uncle, the boys were rescued and raised by a mother wolf who had lost her cubs.

The Roman empire received its name from its western capital, Rome, which was the first city of the empire, dating back as early as the 8th century B.C.  Dorians had invaded Greece around 1000 B.C. and forced it into a Dark Age; some [[Greeks]] fled to the Italian peninsula and named the region "Italy".  By legend, in 753 B.C. two brothers named Romulus and Remus founded the city of Rome on the Tiber River, 15 miles inland from the Tyrrhenian Sea of the Mediterranean Sea.  According to legend, the boys were descendants of Aeneas, who was a refugee of the mythical Trojan War featured in the masterpiece of Greek literature, "The Illiad," and their father was the god Mars.  Abandoned as babies and thrown into the Tiber River by their jealous uncle, the boys were rescued and raised by a mother wolf who had lost her cubs.

When Romulus and Remus were grown, they killed their uncle and founded a city.  Each wanted the new city to be in a different location, and in the fight that ensued, Romulus killed his brother Remus and the city was named Rome.  This story illustrates well the violence and cruelty that was to become an essential characteristic of the Roman people.   

When Romulus and Remus were grown, they killed their uncle and founded a city.  Each wanted the new city to be in a different location, and in the fight that ensued, Romulus killed his brother Remus and the city was named Rome.  This story illustrates well the violence and cruelty that was to become an essential characteristic of the Roman people.   

Ultimately two brothers, Attila and Breda, rose to power in leading the Huns.  Then Attila took power for himself by killing his brother.

Ultimately two brothers, Attila and Breda, rose to power in leading the Huns.  Then Attila took power for himself by killing his brother.

Attila became King of the Huns from A.D. 434 to 453, and he was perhaps the most vicious and barbaric military leader in history.  Known as "Attila the Hun," everyone was completely terrified of him and called him the "Scourge of God."  One rumor was that Attila was a cannibal.  He married seven women in his lifetime.  The Huns were so barbaric that they did not use fire, and would simply eat raw or semi-raw meat that they found in dead animals.  They were extremely fierce in battle.  Superb horsemen, the Huns could shoot a bow accurately while riding a horse, benefiting from stirrups that their opponents did not have.  The Huns would scream in battle and not follow any system of organized warfare, instead preferring complete chaos on the battlefield.  They would fight to the death without any regard for their own safety.  Defending against them was as difficult as fighting off hundreds of hornets after disturbing their nest.

Attila became King of the Huns from A.D. 434 to 453, and he was perhaps the most vicious and barbaric military leader in history.  Known as "Attila the Hun," everyone was completely terrified of him and called him the "Scourge of God."  One rumor was that Attila was a cannibal.  He married seven women in his lifetime.  The Huns were so barbaric that they did not use fire, and would simply eat raw or semi-raw meat that they found in dead animals.  They were extremely fierce in battle.  Superb horsemen, the Huns could shoot a bow accurately while riding a horse, benefiting from stirrups that their opponents did not have.  The Huns would scream in battle and not follow any system of organized warfare, instead preferring complete chaos on the battlefield.  They would fight to the death without any regard for their own safety.  Defending against them was more difficult than, for example, fighting off hundreds of hornets after disturbing their nest.

Attila the Hun himself lived a simple life, wearing plain clothes consisting of layered animal skin.  An envoy from the Eastern Roman empire who met with Attila once at dinner described it as follows:

Attila the Hun himself lived a simple life, wearing plain clothes consisting of layered animal skin.  An envoy from the Eastern Roman empire who met with Attila once at dinner described it as follows:

But Attila was clever, and redirected his Huns towards Rome by invading Italy.  He was headed towards the heart of the Roman empire:  Rome itself.  He destroyed everything in his path in the Roman countryside.  Unable to stop Attila the Hun by force, a peaceful mission led by Pope Leo I traveled out to meet Attila in 452 and try to persuade him to spare Rome.  Moral persuasion worked where violence had not, and Attila did not invade Rome.

But Attila was clever, and redirected his Huns towards Rome by invading Italy.  He was headed towards the heart of the Roman empire:  Rome itself.  He destroyed everything in his path in the Roman countryside.  Unable to stop Attila the Hun by force, a peaceful mission led by Pope Leo I traveled out to meet Attila in 452 and try to persuade him to spare Rome.  Moral persuasion worked where violence had not, and Attila did not invade Rome.

A year later, at only age 47, Attila died apparently from a mere nosebleed, choking to death on his own blood.  It was an ironicly pathetic cause of death for one of the most feared warriors in the history of the world.

A year later, at only age 47, Attila died apparently from a mere nosebleed, choking to death on his own blood.  It was an ironically pathetic cause of death for one of the most feared warriors in the history of the world.

===Germanic Tribes===

===Germanic Tribes===

Shapur I improved the culture of Persia, commissioning translations of Greek and Indian works on philosophy, medicine and astronomy.  He protected religious figures like Mani, who attempted to adapt Christian concepts to ancient Iranian principles of good and evil and thereby create a religion to suit the entire world at the time.  A state church was created, but ultimately Mani was crucified and his followers, the Manicheans, were persecuted.

Shapur I improved the culture of Persia, commissioning translations of Greek and Indian works on philosophy, medicine and astronomy.  He protected religious figures like Mani, who attempted to adapt Christian concepts to ancient Iranian principles of good and evil and thereby create a religion to suit the entire world at the time.  A state church was created, but ultimately Mani was crucified and his followers, the Manicheans, were persecuted.

But the Persians had the same problems which plagued the Romans: raids by uncivilized peoples on their frontiers.  '''The decline of the ancient world was not so much due to one civilized group defeating another, but rather the calamity of barbarians destroying civilization'''.

But the Persians had the same problems that plagued the Romans: raids by uncivilized peoples on their frontiers.  '''The decline of the ancient world was not so much due to one civilized group defeating another, but rather the calamity of barbarians destroying civilization'''.

==Other Reasons for the Fall of the Roman Empire (in the West)==

==Other Reasons for the Fall of the Roman Empire (in the West)==