Bella Vitale

March 26, 2016

Discussion Board - Rome
The fall of the Roman empire was an extremely long and sustained process. In the late
fourth century, the Western Roman Empire crumbled after a nearly 500-year run as the worlds
greatest superpower (Andrews). Historians have blamed the collapse on hundreds of different
factors, ranging from military failures and crippling taxation to natural disasters and even climate
change. Still, others argue that the Roman Empire didnt truly fall in 476 A.D., since its eastern
half continued for another thousand years in the form of the Byzantine Empire (Fall).
Although the United States is much more advanced than Rome was, modern America will follow
in its fate, and eventually collapse because the two countries share similar economic issues and
common characteristics of development.
Due to the fact that Rome and America share common economic issues, it has been
supported that the United States is likely to fall, following in the devastating fate of the Roman
Empire. The two most prominent and relatable economical issues faced by the Romans before
the collapse in 476 A.D. include the beginning of government corruption and rise in political
instability, and the arrival of the Huns and migration of the Barbarian Tribes. If Romes sheer
size made it difficult to govern and cause it to corrupt, ineffective and inconsistent leadership,
which was another significant issue at the time of the Roman Empire, only served to magnify the
problem (Andrews). Severe government corruption and civil war thrust the empire into chaos,
and more than 20 men took the throne in the span of only 75 years (Andrews). Similarly, today,
America is currently facing significant government corruption issues, as well as major political
instability, with several dangerous terrorist threats throughout the globe, in addition to the chaos
caused by the upcoming election. Another significant economic issue faced by the Romans
during the time of the collapse was the migration of the Barbarian Tribes, a large group of people
divided into three tribal factions forming several different confederations in each area of Rome,

Bella Vitale
March 26, 2016
Discussion Board - Rome
as well as the arrival of the Huns, a group of nomads living throughout Eastern Europe, also a
part of the Barbarian Tribes (Barbarian). The migration of these groups remind me profoundly
of the issue in our nation today with illegal immigrants migrating into the United States, illegally.
With the amount of economic issues on the rise in America, the United States is destined to
follow the same fate as Rome; especially considering our process of development.
Considering the fact that the United States shares several of the same characteristics of
development with Rome, America is certain to succumb to Romes fate and collapse. There are
astonishing similarities between the rise of the American state and power and the upsurge of
Roman Republic (T.S.Tsonchev). These likenesses are not due to the specific characteristics of
both countries, rather there is a common pattern in the development of the United States and
Rome. In foreign policy both states, despite their remoteness in time, share a common approach
and direction (T.S.Tsonchev). Like Rome, the United States was far from the civilized world, the
United States from Europe, and Rome from Greece. For a long time, both countries were
concerned only with their own problems and their early expansion was to the West and to the
South in areas sparsely populated, technologically backward and with weak political institutions.
For a long time both did not have a mature national sense. To stay strong, they relied on
immigration and settlers coming from foreign lands (Fall). Rome was promising land,
security and freedom to its citizens and, much like it, America also attracted settlers with
promises of land, security, as well as freedom (Lewis). America is destined to follow in the
footsteps of Rome and subsequently collapse due to the fact that the United States share the same
characteristics in which Rome possessed during its early developmental stages.
Although when most people think of America today they think of an extremely strong
and united country. Some may believe that the United States can overcome the same challenges

Bella Vitale
March 26, 2016
Discussion Board - Rome
that the Romans faced, solely due to the fact that we are in a later time period and are much more
advanced than Rome was at the time of the collapse. Our nation is so developed and ahead of
other countries, technology wise, that we could never fall (Will). However, even though we
live in a seemingly indestructible and technologically advanced nation, if something even
remotely similar to what happened in Rome occurred in the United States, we would surely
collapse (Is). Although many individuals believe that America will not share the same fate as
Rome, the United States is destined to follow in Romes footsteps due to the many similarities
between the two countries such as common economical issues, as well as similar development.
America shares far too many similar negative characteristics and faults as Rome not to share a
similar fate.
America is destined for the same fate as Rome, and completely fall, due to the fact that
we share many of the same economic issues, as well as have similar characteristics of
development as countries. The United States will eventually collapse, following a similar, if not
identical, fate as Rome. Even though many believe that America could never collapse as Rome
did due to the fact that it is much more advanced than Rome was at the time, modern America
will follow in the fate of Rome and eventually fall because of the similar economic issues and
common characteristics of development shared between the two countries.

Works Cited
Andrews, Evan. "8 Reasons Why Rome Fell." History.com. A&E Television Networks,
14 Jan. 2014. Web. 28 Mar. 2016.
"Barbarian Tribes Of Europe." N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2016.

Bella Vitale
March 26, 2016
Discussion Board - Rome
"Fall of the Roman Empire." Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association, 2014. Web.
28 Mar. 2016.
"Is America Dying like the Roman Empire?" Is America Dying like the Roman Empire?
N.p., 2016. Web. 28 Mar. 2016.
Lewis, Michael. "Is America the New Rome? United States vs. the Roman Empire."
N.p., 2016. Web. 28 Mar. 2016.
T.S.Tsonchev, T.S. "Is America the New Rome?" Is America the New Rome? N.p., 2014.
Web. 28 Mar. 2016.
"Will America Collapse?" Political Economy Will America Collapse Comments. N.p.,
2010. Web. 28 Mar. 2016.