In-between family life this last Christmas week, I read “How Rome Fell” by Adrian Goldsworthy. This isn’t a book review. Rather, it’s a rambling amateur stab-in-the-dark attempt to explore a related question: “why did Rome fall”?
If I recall correctly, the idea took root while watching Gladiator a decade ago. Precisely, it was this quote by an ageing Marcus Aurelius: “There was once a dream that was Rome. You could only whisper it. Anything more than a whisper and it would vanish…”1
Is this true? Part of my mind secretly worries that it might be, and if it is, it’s as true now as it was in 180 AD.
Every generation sees omens in the disagreeable events in their lives. Leading up to the second World War many writers seemed preoccupied with the decline of democracy and rise of totalitarianism. And now, history repeats with a twist, as I worry that we’re losing the dream that is liberal democracy. That our democracies will quietly become empty facades for our stripped away freedoms.
Freedoms which previous generations fought for so diligently are rapidly being removed from us. The explanations are unconvincing and inconsistant. From the “war on terror” through “intellectual copyright infringement” to “too big to fail”…
Julius Caesar helped end the republic, his murder leading to civil war. Augustus brought peace by carefully avoiding overt displays of his tyranny. Instead he played heavily on tradition, the emperor together with the venerable senate, for the glory of Rome. This lasted for two centuries.2 Killing Commodus in his bath didn’t break this tradition. The unseemly struggle for succession after did. Didius buying the imperial title from the praetorian guard showed that the senate was powerless. Power was clearly in the hands of he who controlled the army.
To keep the army on your side you needed gold so you’d raise taxes. You’d also keep the army close, to stop other rich men from having you killed. The empire was large, so there was more than one army. Frequently this resulted in each army picking their own emperor leading to civil war. Roman armies increasingly fought each other. Generals would have pulled troops off the borders to support their internal campaigns, opening the outer edges of the empire to raids from outside tribes seeking the riches of the Roman provinces… The barbarian invasions were a consequence, not the cause, of Roman weakness.3
They were too busy fighting over Rome, to look out for Rome.
And what of the ordinary people? The standard of living probably changed slowly for most. Perhaps almost imperceptibly. But by the fifth century a trench with hot stones had to do for a warm Roman bath.4 What saddens me is the thought of declining numbers of young people getting an education. Fewer merchants, architects, doctors and engineers. With limited opportunities human ingenuity was reduced to essentials like providing food and housing for one’s family. We don’t know how lives changed over these centuries but to me it’s striking that tiled roofs were replaced with thatch. At some point the factories had closed.
When the exercise of power becomes focussed on keeping the leaders in power, to the exclusion of all other priorities, the center will inevitably consume itself. The provinces will drift away, disillusioned and turning to self-reliance, but far weaker than when the empire was unified.
So returning to 2012, it appears that a privileged few have gamed the system to their own completely selfish, short-term benefit. They’re thoughtlessly breaking the tradition that we’re all one society with common goals. And they’re using their influence to pretend the new order is to our benefit.
Every generation worries about those in power, so is now any different? I wonder if it’s a question of timing. Perhaps during the Cold War, the basest instincts of those with wealth and power were tempered by the fear that if they did not act in the interest of their society, invading armies, or falling hydrogen bombs could take it all away. There’s no such fear now.5 Instead the super-rich appear to be under the impression that they can ignore their own societies without fear of repercussion.
Without the big and noble idea (empire; religion; democracy) self-interest is poison to a civilisation.
So my little secret fear is now open to all. But all is not gloom, as it has a moderating theory to place it in perspective. Our civilisation is (as thoughtfully noted by Václav Havel) global6. I believe this means that even if we in the West lose our way, others will step in to continue. To keep the factories open. Our roofs tiled.
We live in wonderful times. Amazing numbers of us have lives of peace, wonder and prosperous longevity. We just need to be a little more grateful and protective of it all.
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[1] Great script-writing, but there’s no evidence he actually said this. I’ve no idea if he’d have agreed with it. However, his meditations are full of his thoughts on the impermanence of the world around us and our place in it. At least I am certain from “Meditations” that he’d likely have been open to discussing the topic and that’s enough for me.
[2] Or perhaps the Principate that Augustus created just interrupted the inevitable consequences for a period.
[3] Goldsworthy notes this on numerous occasions.
[4] Page 364. Bishop Sidonius of Clermont wrote in a letter, that his hosts did not have a complete bath, so their servants dug a trench and filled it with heated stones. A roof of hazel twigs over their heads, the guests got in and “here we while away the hours with no lack of witty and humorous conversation”. As Goldsworthy notes, the desire to be a ‘Roman’ was strong, and yet not even the aristocrats in 5th century Gaul could maintain it.
[5] I’m certain that few in power lie awake at night worrying about terrorists. Unless they’re up for re-election and fear what the resultant media frenzy might do to their chances.
[6] “We are living in the first truly global civilisation. That means that whatever comes into existence on its soil can very quickly and easily span the whole world.” Remarks by Václav Havel at the Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Forum 2000 conference: http://www.forum2000.cz/en/projects/forum-2000-conferences/2010/speeches/remarks-by-vaclav-havel-at-the-opening-ceremony/