The Fall of Rome essays

The Fall of Rome essays The fall of the Roman Republic and eventually the fall of the Western Roman empire are both very important events in our worlds history. There were many different events and problems that contributed to the fall of Rome. Economic depression, high taxes, and barbarian domination are all possible causes of the fall of the empire (Smith 201). These problems, along with civil wars, slowly destroyed the Roman Empire. From 264 B.C. to 146 B.C. there were a series of fights between Rome and Carthage known as the Punic Wars. Three different Punic Wars were fought during this time and they caused some major problems for Rome. Farmland was destroyed and farmers had no choice but to move to the cities to find work. The main problem with this was that most jobs were taken by slave labor, so farmers could not find work. Suitable living quarters The first Punic War was for control of Sicily. It lasted from 264 B.C. to 241 B.C. Rome was victorious in this war (World 144). The second Punic War was instigated in 218 B.C. by Hannibal, a Carthaginian general who wanted to avenge Carthages previous loss. Scipio, a Roman general, devised a plan to defeat Hannibal. Scipio attacked Carthage, Hannibals native home. This lured Hannibal back for a final battle in this war. Hannibal was defeated in 202 B.C. at a town called Zuma. Winning this war was a victory for Romes army, but a defeat for small farmers (Roman). This was the most destructive war of the three Punic Wars. This was the time when the most farmland was destroyed. The third Punic War lasted from 149 B.C. to 146 B.C. There was not really any actual fighting during this war. Instead, Rome sought revenge for the damage Carthage had previously caused to Rome. In 146 B.C., Rome burned Carthage and sold its citizens into slavery. Carthage then became the new province of Africa (World 145). Another problem that...