1,534 Years Ago...Are We There Yet?

September 4, 476...Romulus Augustus, the last recognized Emperor of the Western Roman Empire, was deposed by Germanic chieftain Odacer. This date is largely considered by most historians to be the actual date of the fall of the per-se Roman Empire. The date is considered arbitrary by other historians, since the legitimate and recognized ruler of the Eastern Roman Empire, Julius Nepos, continued to live in Dalmatia until his assassination four years later.
Many scholars maintain that rather than a "fall", the changes were more gradual, and can more accurately be described as a fundamental TRANSFORMATION, since the Eastern Roman empire, more commonly known as the Byzantine Empire, continued to thrive as a regional power until the fall of Constantinople in 1453. There is no debating, however, that the last time the Roman Empire was politically unified was until the death of Theodosius I in 395.

The building above is one of many reminders left by one of the FORMER MPNEs...Most Powerful Nations on Earth. Most who travel there to marvel at the Coliseum's architecture and how it has withstood the test of time, don't know the details (and LESSONS) provided in the paragraph above.

Rome was crippled by huge government bureaucracies, enormous public debt, a history of court favoritism, infidelity, exposure of unwanted infants, perverted bathhouses, and sexual immorality. The Roman Army, though militarily superior and marching on advanced road systems, were strained fighting conflicts worldwide, and eventually troops had to be brought home from the frontiers.

Rome had a trade deficit, having out-sourced its grain production to North Africa. When the Vandals captured that area, Rome did not have the resources to retaliate. The citizens of Rome were mainly immigrants (Visigoths, Franks, Anglos, Saxons, Ostrogoths, Burgundians, Lombards and Vandals) who poured in so fast they did not learn the Latin language. They were kept distracted with violent entertainment in the Coliseum and Circus Maximus, living on welfare and free bread, and one Roman commented: "Those who live at the expense of the public funds are more numerous than those who provide them." Tax collectors were considered by the Roman businesses to be "worse than the enemy".

The building above, although a marvel of architecture and historical significance, is much more than that...it is a WARNING to the current MPNE to beware the path that you are on...I was there and this is all that remains.