The Fall of Rome

1. The Fall of Rome Objective: * Using the information and links provided on the slides answer the 5 questions to analyze how these theories correlate to the problems in the United States today?

2. The Fall of Rome • Barbarian Invasions • Decline in Morals and Values • Environmental and Public Health Problems • Excessive Military Spending to Defend the Empire • Inferior Technology • Inflation • Political Corruption • Rise in Christianity • Unemployment • Urban Decay

3. U.S. • Even with 1-2 Billion in cuts • Spending = 23% of budget (up • 3% since 2009) 868.1 Billion • Education: 118.1 Billion(3% of budget • Defense projected to go up to over 9 billion by 2015 Slide 1: Military Spending Rome Increased to defend borders against barbarian attacks. In later years of the empire, they relied on mercenaries. Farmers and businessmen paid higher taxes for military. Left fewer resources for roads, housing, etc. http://www.usfederalbudget.us/federal_budget_detail_fy12bs12013n

4. Slide 2: Political Corruption Rome • No effective way to elect new Emperors. (4 ways) • Began selling the throne to highest bidder. • 37 Emperors in 100 years. (25 killed by assassination) • U.S. • “Read my lips, no new taxes” • Richard Nixon: Watergate 72’ • Governor Blagojevich: • Selling Obama’s senate seat. • Senator Stevens: • Accepting bribes. “I am not a crook!”

5. Slide 3: Inferior Technology • U.S. • Automobile Industry’s • is on the rise http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2012/01/why-2012-could-be-the-year-of-the-us-auto-industry.html • Products made abroad,USA creates ideas http://www.nytimes.com/pages/technology/index.html Rome • No new technological innovations in later years. • Failure of new inventions meant they couldn’t provide for the growing population. • Relied heavily on human and animal labor.

6. Slide 4: Inflation • U.S. • The inflation rate in USA was 1.70 percent in 12/2012 http://www.tradingeconomics.com/united-states/inflation-cpi • Avg price of milk in ‘12 was $3.67 in 1990 was $1.47 Rome • Stopped conquering new lands meant no new gold. • Gold spent on luxury items meant less gold in coins. • Merchants raised prices due to lesser value of coins. • Coins were replaced by a system of barter.

7. Slide 5: Unemployment • U.S. • Predicted to rise • Decline of Union jobs in • manufacturing industries. • Recession equals layoffs. • http://www.forecasts.org/unemploy.htm Rome • Cheaper for farmers to use slaves then pay workmen. • Other farms could not compete with lower prices and lost or sold their farms creating latifundias. • Thousands of unemployed in the cities.(proletariats)

8. Slide 6: Urban Decay • U.S. • Violent crimes, drug • addiction, unsanitary • conditions, and homelessness. • 3.5 Million Americans • experience homelessness in a • given year. (1% of population) • http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/526/homeless-facts.html Rome • Most citizens lived in insulaes that were hot and dirty. • Those who couldn’t pay rent were forced out to the crime infested streets.

9. Slide 7: Decline in Morals Rome • Increase in crimes and violence. • Emperors wasted money on lavish parties. Guests ate and drank until they became ill. • Passion for Gladiatorial Games. • U.S. • Increase in crime. • Movies, music, and TV • glorify sex and violence. • Children cannot distinguish • from right and wrong. • (Columbine-Sandy Hook) • http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57564071/suviving-sandy-hook-kids-record-song-for-charity/