Position:Home>History> Why did the Romans create and empire? Why did it eventually fal?

The start of the Roman Empire was their need to defend themselves from neighbors!. They wound up conquering Italy because they felt they had to dominate other Italian towns!. The towns were their allies, but the towns rose up in rebellion, demanding the same "Latin rights" that Romans enjoyed!. So Rome warred them down, then granted its new possessions Latin rights!.

The Romans and Carthaginians were in conflict with one another when Rome reached the tip of the Italian boot!. So the three Punic wars served to conquer Carthage, and incidentally add North Africa to Roman territory!. Rome felt obliged to interfere in Greece when the policies of Philip V of Macedon disturbed affairs on Rome's borders there!.

There is an eye-opening book about how the Roman empire reached its limits and why it came to an end in Western Europe!. This is "The Fall of the Roman Empire: A New History of Rome and the Barbarians" by Peter Heather, an Oxford professor!. It just came out in 2007, and is in paperback!. Maybe you can get a cheap used copy on amazon!.com or alibris!.com!. It depends on how much time you have!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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They expolited the natural resources and wealth of other areas to better the lifestyle of their citizens!. Africa provided wild animals, crops, slaves etc They also need to defend themsleves which they could best do this by defeating other powers in the region - notably Greece and then Eygpt!.Having done so they then had to take over the territory - they eventualy exceeded the area they could realistically control!.

It was defeated ostensibly by the rise of Christianity - when it becam the Holy Roman Empire - which accounts for the location of the Vatican in modern Rome!. There are plenty of sites on this - the most famous work is Gibbons' Decline and falll of the Roman Empire, but there are more accessible summmaries which is more what you need!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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While most historians will probably not agree with me, the empire began its fall when it over extended itself militarily!. The further away from Rome, the more lax commanders got about the rules!. They did not require the men to don full battle gear, they allowed the men to marry into the local populace and it just all sort of went down hill from there!. It's a funny thing about liberalizing policies and laws, once you become accustom to it, you look to make it even more so!. It's a slippery slope!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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Pretty vague!. They created an empire to grab wealth and land from others!. Greed is a good answer!. Why did Rome fall!? Lots of reasons!. Apathy, disease, lack of resources, etc!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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