RAP: Monday 9/26/11RAP: Monday 9/26/11

What are the three most serious What are the three most serious problems that threaten the problems that threaten the stability of the United States stability of the United States today? today?

Today you will compare the challenges facing America today with Today you will compare the challenges facing America today with

the conditions that contributed to the decline of the Roman Empire.the conditions that contributed to the decline of the Roman Empire.

Examining America and Examining America and the Roman Declinethe Roman Decline

MatrixMatrix In your notebook, create a matrix titled In your notebook, create a matrix titled

“Comparing Ancient Rome with America “Comparing Ancient Rome with America today.”today.”

Three headingsThree headings::

1.1. IssueIssue

2.2. Similarities Between Rome and America on Similarities Between Rome and America on this issue.this issue.

3.3. Differences between Rome and America on Differences between Rome and America on this issue.this issue.

This cartoon suggests that the government spends This cartoon suggests that the government spends excessive amounts of money on the military.excessive amounts of money on the military.

Roman EmpireRoman Empire For Romans, For Romans, maintaining an armymaintaining an army to to defend the defend the

bordersborders of the Empire from barbarian attacks was of the Empire from barbarian attacks was a a constant drain on the governmentconstant drain on the government. . Military spending left Military spending left few resourcesfew resources for other vital activities for other vital activities, ,

like providing like providing public housingpublic housing and and maintaining maintaining the quality of the quality of public public roadsroads. .

In the latter years of the Empire, In the latter years of the Empire, frustrated Romans lost their frustrated Romans lost their desire to defend the Empiredesire to defend the Empire. Thus, the government found it . Thus, the government found it necessary to rely increasingly on hired soldiers recruited necessary to rely increasingly on hired soldiers recruited from the unemployed city mobs or foreign countries. from the unemployed city mobs or foreign countries.

Such an army was not only unreliable, but also very Such an army was not only unreliable, but also very expensive. expensive.

Thus, the Thus, the emperors were forced to emperors were forced to raise taxesraise taxes frequently frequently — —the majority of which were paid by businessmen and the majority of which were paid by businessmen and farmers, which hurt the economy. farmers, which hurt the economy.

Some historians believe that this helped lead to the fall of Some historians believe that this helped lead to the fall of the Empire.the Empire.

This political cartoon comments on the loss of faith in U.S. This political cartoon comments on the loss of faith in U.S. government.government.

Roman Empire – Political Roman Empire – Political CorruptionCorruption

Political corruption was a serious problem in the latter stages of Political corruption was a serious problem in the latter stages of the Roman Empire. the Roman Empire.

The Romans, for example, The Romans, for example, never created an effective system to never created an effective system to determine how new emperors would be selected. determine how new emperors would be selected.

For this reason, the choice of a new emperor was For this reason, the choice of a new emperor was always open always open to debate between the old emperor, the Senate, the Praetorian to debate between the old emperor, the Senate, the Praetorian Guard (the emperor’s private army), and the army. Guard (the emperor’s private army), and the army.

Gradually the Praetorian Guard gained complete authority to Gradually the Praetorian Guard gained complete authority to choose the new emperor. In return, the new emperor choose the new emperor. In return, the new emperor handsomely rewarded the Guard for its support. This system handsomely rewarded the Guard for its support. This system worked fairly well for a time. worked fairly well for a time.

Beginning Beginning in A.D. 186, however, when the army strangled the in A.D. 186, however, when the army strangled the new emperor, the practice began of selling the throne to the new emperor, the practice began of selling the throne to the highest bidder. highest bidder.

During the next 100 years, Rome had 37 different emperors—During the next 100 years, Rome had 37 different emperors—25 of whom were removed from office by assassination.25 of whom were removed from office by assassination.

Political cartoon suggesting that American automobile technology and Political cartoon suggesting that American automobile technology and manufacturing capabilities has declined.manufacturing capabilities has declined.

The American automobile The American automobile industry’s inability to industry’s inability to compete with foreign compete with foreign competition in recent competition in recent decades symbolizes to decades symbolizes to many the decline of many the decline of America’s innovation and America’s innovation and economic dominance. economic dominance.

This cartoon suggests that This cartoon suggests that American technology has American technology has not advanced as it needed not advanced as it needed to, which has hampered this to, which has hampered this nation’s ability to compete in nation’s ability to compete in the national and world the national and world market.market.

Roman Empire – Technological Roman Empire – Technological innovationinnovation

Lack of technological innovation hurt the Roman Lack of technological innovation hurt the Roman Empire. Empire. During the last 400 years of the Empire, the During the last 400 years of the Empire, the scientific scientific

achievements of the Romans were limited almost entirely to achievements of the Romans were limited almost entirely to engineering and the organization of public services. engineering and the organization of public services.

They built marvelous roads, bridges, and aqueducts. They built marvelous roads, bridges, and aqueducts. They established the They established the first system of medicine for the benefit first system of medicine for the benefit

of the poor. of the poor. But since the Romans But since the Romans relied so much on human and animal relied so much on human and animal

labor, they failed to invent many new machines or find new labor, they failed to invent many new machines or find new technology to produce goods more efficiently. technology to produce goods more efficiently.

As a result of inferior production techniques, the Romans As a result of inferior production techniques, the Romans were unable to provide important goods for their growing were unable to provide important goods for their growing population. population.

Some historians theorize that this contributed to the downfall Some historians theorize that this contributed to the downfall of the Empireof the Empire..

Inflation has been one of the chief concerns of American economic Inflation has been one of the chief concerns of American economic policymakers in recent decades. Much attention has been focused on policymakers in recent decades. Much attention has been focused on

developing monetary policies to minimize its impact on consumers.developing monetary policies to minimize its impact on consumers.

Roman Empire--EconomyRoman Empire--Economy The Roman economy suffered from inflation after the The Roman economy suffered from inflation after the

reign of reign of Marcus AureliusMarcus Aurelius. . Once the Romans stopped conquering new lands, Once the Romans stopped conquering new lands,

the flow of gold into the Roman economy decreasedthe flow of gold into the Roman economy decreased. . Yet, much gold was being spent by the Romans to Yet, much gold was being spent by the Romans to pay for luxury items. pay for luxury items. This meant that This meant that there was less gold to use in coinsthere was less gold to use in coins. As the . As the

amount of gold used in coins decreased, the amount of gold used in coins decreased, the coins became coins became less valuableless valuable. .

To make up for this loss in value, To make up for this loss in value, merchants raised the merchants raised the pricesprices on the goods they sold. on the goods they sold.

Many Many people stopped using coins and began to barterpeople stopped using coins and began to barter (trading goods for goods, rather than using money) to get (trading goods for goods, rather than using money) to get what they needed. what they needed.

Eventually, Eventually, salaries had to be paid in food and clothing, and salaries had to be paid in food and clothing, and taxes were collected in fruits and vegetables. taxes were collected in fruits and vegetables.

Some historians argue that inflation weakened the Some historians argue that inflation weakened the economy and helped lead to the collapse of the empireeconomy and helped lead to the collapse of the empire..

Unemployment and Unemployment and underemployment underemployment have been have been particularly particularly troublesome troublesome problems in the problems in the United States in United States in recent decades. recent decades.

With the decline of With the decline of union jobs in union jobs in manufacturing manufacturing industries, increasing industries, increasing numbers of workers numbers of workers have been have been unemployed, forced unemployed, forced to take low-paying to take low-paying jobs, or be retrained jobs, or be retrained for service industries. for service industries.

Periods of recession Periods of recession have also produced have also produced layoffs at all levels of layoffs at all levels of the workforce.the workforce.

Roman Empire --UnemploymentRoman Empire --Unemployment During the During the latter stages of the Roman Empirelatter stages of the Roman Empire, ,

unemployment became a significant problemunemployment became a significant problem. . Farming was done on large estates that were owned Farming was done on large estates that were owned

by wealthy men who used slave labor. by wealthy men who used slave labor. A farmer who had to pay workmen could not produce goods A farmer who had to pay workmen could not produce goods

as cheaply as a slave owner could. as cheaply as a slave owner could. Therefore, Therefore, slave owners could sell their crops for lower slave owners could sell their crops for lower

prices. prices. As a result, many farmers As a result, many farmers could not competecould not compete with these low with these low

prices and prices and lost or sold their farmslost or sold their farms. . Thousands of these men filled the cities of the Empire, Thousands of these men filled the cities of the Empire,

where there were where there were not enough jobs to accommodate themnot enough jobs to accommodate them. . At one time, the At one time, the emperor was importing grain to feed more emperor was importing grain to feed more

than 100,000 unemployed people in Rome alone. than 100,000 unemployed people in Rome alone. Some historians believe that this contributed to the Some historians believe that this contributed to the

collapse of the Empire.collapse of the Empire.

Urban decay is an Urban decay is an increasing problem in increasing problem in the United States. the United States.

Symptoms of this Symptoms of this decay- violent crimes, decay- violent crimes, drug addiction, drug addiction, unsanitary conditions, unsanitary conditions, homelessness, homelessness, hopelessness- increase hopelessness- increase yearly. yearly.

Most major cities in Most major cities in America constantly America constantly struggle to provide struggle to provide basic services to their basic services to their citizens.citizens.

Roman Empire –Urban DecayRoman Empire –Urban Decay Although some city dwellers in the Roman Empire, as Although some city dwellers in the Roman Empire, as

in America, were wealthy, most were not. in America, were wealthy, most were not. The majority lived in small, smelly rooms in apartment The majority lived in small, smelly rooms in apartment

houses with six or more stories called islands. houses with six or more stories called islands. Each island covered an entire block. At one time there were Each island covered an entire block. At one time there were

44,000 apartment houses within the city walls of Rome. 44,000 apartment houses within the city walls of Rome. First-floor apartments were not occupied by the poor since First-floor apartments were not occupied by the poor since

theses living quarters rented for about $400 a year. theses living quarters rented for about $400 a year. The more shaky wooden stairs a family had to climb, the The more shaky wooden stairs a family had to climb, the

cheaper the rent became. cheaper the rent became. The upper apartments that the poor rented for $40 a year The upper apartments that the poor rented for $40 a year

were hot, dirty, crowded, and dangerous. were hot, dirty, crowded, and dangerous. Anyone who could not pay the rent was forced to move out Anyone who could not pay the rent was forced to move out

and live on the crime infested streets.and live on the crime infested streets. Because of this, Because of this, cities began to decaycities began to decay. . Some historians believe that this helped lead to the downfall Some historians believe that this helped lead to the downfall

of the Roman Empire.of the Roman Empire.

Some claim that America Some claim that America has experienced a decline has experienced a decline of moral standards in of moral standards in recent decades. recent decades.

These critics argue that These critics argue that family values have family values have deteriorated, that crime is deteriorated, that crime is out of control, and that out of control, and that children today increasingly children today increasingly cannot distinguish right cannot distinguish right from wrong. from wrong.

Moreover, many blame Moreover, many blame various forms of various forms of entertainment – movies, entertainment – movies, television, music, and television, music, and sports—for glorifying sex sports—for glorifying sex and violence. and violence.

And in many cases, people And in many cases, people are attracted to are attracted to entertainment simply entertainment simply because of its base appeal.because of its base appeal.

Roman Empire – Decline in moral standardRoman Empire – Decline in moral standard The final years of the Empire were marked by a decline in The final years of the Empire were marked by a decline in

morals and values, and some historians believe that this morals and values, and some historians believe that this contributed to the decline of the Empire. contributed to the decline of the Empire.

Crimes of violence made the streets of the Empire’s larger cities very Crimes of violence made the streets of the Empire’s larger cities very unsafe. unsafe.

According to Roman historians and According to Roman historians and Caligula became infamous Caligula became infamous for wasting money on lavish parties, where guests ate and for wasting money on lavish parties, where guests ate and drank until they became ill.drank until they became ill.

Most significant, however, was the Most significant, however, was the growth of the Roman growth of the Roman passion for cruelty. passion for cruelty.

The most popular amusement was watching the The most popular amusement was watching the gladiatorial gladiatorial combats in the Coliseum. combats in the Coliseum.

These were attended by the poor, the rich, and frequently the emperor These were attended by the poor, the rich, and frequently the emperor himself. himself.

As gladiators fought, vicious cries and curses were heard from the As gladiators fought, vicious cries and curses were heard from the audience. audience.

One contest after another was staged in the course of a single day. One contest after another was staged in the course of a single day. Should the ground of the arena become too soaked with blood, Should the ground of the arena become too soaked with blood,

it was covered over with a fresh layer of sand, and the revolting it was covered over with a fresh layer of sand, and the revolting performances went on.performances went on.

Wrap UpWrap Up

1.1. What problems does our country have today What problems does our country have today that are similar to those faced by the ancient that are similar to those faced by the ancient Romans?Romans?

2.2. Which of these problems do you think was the Which of these problems do you think was the most serious for the Romans?most serious for the Romans?

3.3. Which of these problems do you think is most Which of these problems do you think is most serious for the U.S?serious for the U.S?

4.4. Why is it too simplistic to blame the fall of Why is it too simplistic to blame the fall of Rome on one issue?Rome on one issue?

5.5. What lessons can the American government What lessons can the American government and people learn from the fall of the Roman and people learn from the fall of the Roman Empire?Empire?

Please work on your Map for Please work on your Map for the rest of the class period.the rest of the class period.