Fall of the Roman Empire Due to Christianity Research Paper

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Fall of the Roman Empire Due to Christianity

The fall of Roman Empire due to Christianity

The research paper first makes a brief general overview of the ancient Roman Empire mainly looking at its' leadership structure, division of regions, senatorial and equestrian order in the empire, the religious history detailing its earlier religious practices and beliefs. The highlights or the transformations that took place before the empire finally collapsed shall also be mentioned from the third century up to the fifth century where it finally collapsed.

The research topic which is Christianity as the reason for the fall of the empire is in the third section of the paper. Various factors that were brought along with formalization of Christianity as an official language of the Roman Empire and contributed to its' downfall will be critically analyzed. Other documented causes that led to the fall of Roman Empire will also be briefly mentioned before the research is concluded.

Introduction

The research explores a topic that has being widely studied and researched upon by other authors such as Bury, J.B., History of the Later Roman Empire, (New York, 1958), 23-57[footnoteRef:2], but unlike the other studies and researches earlier done, this paper will primary look at Christianity as the main cause of the fall of the Roman Empire and try to answer questions such as; [2: Bury, J.B., History of the Later Roman Empire, (New York, 1958), 23-57,]

Was Christianity being practiced even when the Roman Empire was still united?

What were some of the changes brought about by Christianity to the Roman Empire?

Did any of these changes cause the fall of the Roman Empire?

Roman Empire

The study and research conducted by Bury, J. B and printed in his book, History of the Later Roman Empire (New York, 1958), 23-57[footnoteRef:3], show that the Roman Empire was under the rule of an Emperor appointed either by the empire's senate or his successor which was mostly the case. The emperor was the leader of Roman's civil government including the Roman Empire's senate.

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[3: Bury, J.B., History of the Later Roman Empire, (New York, 1958), 23-57]

The emperor exercised excessive authority and in the modern civil world the powers endowed to him could be regarded as those of an autocratic leader. The Empire's army was also under his full control and entrusted with ensuring that there was no threat to the leadership, he had the powers to decide who goes to the senate and who does not, his office could declare war against an enemy and even in religious institutions where he had membership in all the major priesthoods they were all under his authority.

Hierarchy of authority was lead by the emperor, senators came at second in command but were viewed as just sideshows they never had any real authority as compared to senators whom are in the present governments, they merely acted on emperor' mercy and at times on order given by him. To be appointed as a senator one was supposed to be a rich person coming from a well-known family. The equestrians were third in command but never had as much prestige as those above the hierarchy however their appointment criteria were similar to those of the senators.

The Empire was divided into two provinces namely; the senatorial and imperial provinces. Senatorial provinces were strategically located inland far from the borders where the ruling government had strong influence and control over them. The imperial provinces were majorly located at the borders of the empire mainly because of the fact that they were newly conquered territories that were governed by the imperial governments.....

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