Changes

==Chronology==

==Chronology==

[[Image:Pantheon.jpg|right|180px]]

[[Image:Pantheon.jpg|right|180px]]

Augustus was the first Emperor, leading a stable and peaceful Empire.  He cut the size of the military and reorganized it so the Empire would have about 300,000 men under arms, basically manning the borders, and extremely mobile.  He decided against expanding the Empire after the [[Battle of the Teutoburg Forest]] in 9 B.C. and the loss the Romans incurred believing there was little to gain in spending great amounts of money and resources to conquer barbarians that could provide little in return.  His successors agreed with his policies, although they did from time to time make small expansions to the borders.  He undertook building projects and road construction that led to great improvements.

Augustus was the first Emperor, leading a stable and peaceful Empire.  He cut the size of the military and reorganized it so the Empire would have about 300,000 men under arms, basically manning the borders, and extremely mobile.  He decided against expanding the Empire after the [[Battle of the Teutoburg Forest]] in 9 AD and the loss the Romans incurred believing there was little to gain in spending great amounts of money and resources to conquer barbarians that could provide little in return.  His successors agreed with his policies, although they did from time to time make small expansions to the borders.  He undertook building projects and road construction that led to great improvements.

* [[Tiberius]] ruled from 14 to 37

* [[Tiberius]] ruled from 14 to 37

From a societal standpoint it has been posited that immorality so weakened the spirit of the Empire that it was unable to stand firm against the Barbarians. Certainly poets such as [[Catullus]] and [[Juvenal]] describe many unnatural practices but that happened in the glory days, and did not carry over to the centuries of decline.  

From a societal standpoint it has been posited that immorality so weakened the spirit of the Empire that it was unable to stand firm against the Barbarians. Certainly poets such as [[Catullus]] and [[Juvenal]] describe many unnatural practices but that happened in the glory days, and did not carry over to the centuries of decline.  

Heather (2007) argues that the later empire was not failing, but remained wealthy and strong. The problem was that external enemies built up stronge, better organized armies, so that the fall was inevitable and was caused by external forces that Rome could not stop.  Heather, an expert on the Gauls, emphasizes their strengths.

Heather (2007) argues that the later empire was not failing, but remained wealthy and strong. The problem was that external enemies built up stronger, better organized armies, so that the fall was inevitable and was caused by external forces that Rome could not stop.  Heather, an expert on the Gauls, emphasizes their strengths.

Goldsworthy (2009) sees steady decline and rejects Heather's arguments that the later empire was prosperous or strong. The Persians and various barbarian tribes were not especially stronger, either in numbers or organization, than Rome. Instead Rome's greatest enemy was itself. The constant civil wars fought after Marcus Aurelius destabilized Roman society and weakened the borders, allowing otherwise weak enemies to exploit Roman instability.  Goldsworthy notes that senators were excluded from military command in ordder to strengthen the emperor, but this weakened the army. Tensions between the civil bureaucracy and the army, and the use of smaller and smaller units to prevent any opponent getting a power base reduced the empire's ability to quickly counter any foreign invasion. An increasing number of foreigners were allowed to occupy the land, thus depriving the West of needed tax revenue, which in turn weakened the army and bureaucracy, and so encouraging more infiltration and forced settlement and thus into a downward spiral.<ref> See  Adrian Goldsworthy, ''How Rome Fell: Death of a Superpower'' (2009)</ref>

Goldsworthy (2009) sees steady decline and rejects Heather's arguments that the later empire was prosperous or strong. The Persians and various barbarian tribes were not especially stronger, either in numbers or organization, than Rome. Instead Rome's greatest enemy was itself. The constant civil wars fought after Marcus Aurelius destabilized Roman society and weakened the borders, allowing otherwise weak enemies to exploit Roman instability.  Goldsworthy notes that senators were excluded from military command in ordder to strengthen the emperor, but this weakened the army. Tensions between the civil bureaucracy and the army, and the use of smaller and smaller units to prevent any opponent getting a power base reduced the empire's ability to quickly counter any foreign invasion. An increasing number of foreigners were allowed to occupy the land, thus depriving the West of needed tax revenue, which in turn weakened the army and bureaucracy, and so encouraging more infiltration and forced settlement and thus into a downward spiral.<ref> See  Adrian Goldsworthy, ''How Rome Fell: Death of a Superpower'' (2009)</ref>

The actual "fall" of the Roman Empire is said to have occurred on September 4th, 476 A.D. when [[Odoacer]], a barbarian part Hun general led a mutiny by most of the barbarian mercenaries in Orestes' army (the master general in Italy, and father of the Emperor who he had placed on the throne the previous year after a coup).  Orestes was defeated at the [[Battle of Pavia]] on August 23rd and captured and killed after a brief siege.  Odoacer deposed [[Romulus Augustulus]] and seized control of Italy.  He did not take the title of Emperor, thus ending 500 years of Roman rule.<ref>Encyclopedia of Military History, Dupuy and Dupuy, p. 171</ref>

The actual "fall" of the Roman Empire is said to have occurred on September 4th, 476 A.D. when [[Odoacer]], a barbarian part Hun general led a mutiny by most of the barbarian mercenaries in Orestes' army (the master general in Italy, and father of the Emperor whom he had placed on the throne the previous year after a coup).  Orestes was defeated at the [[Battle of Pavia]] on August 23rd and captured and killed after a brief siege.  Odoacer deposed [[Romulus Augustulus]] and seized control of Italy.  He did not take the title of Emperor, thus ending 500 years of Roman rule.<ref>Encyclopedia of Military History, Dupuy and Dupuy, p. 171</ref>

== After "the Fall" ==

== After "the Fall" ==