Did Christianity Cause The Fall of The Roman Empire?
by The historian Edward Gibbon believed that Christianity bore the ultimate responsibility for the fall of the Roman Empire. However, during the third century, the Romans were well on their way to destroying themselves.
Ultimately, the Christians may have disrupted the foundations of the Roman Empire; however their actions hardly destroyed the Romans as Edward Gibbons had implied. The empire was on the decline well before Christianity was becoming a dominant force. However, Edward Gibbons believed that Christianity had refuted the fact that Rome was founded by the gods, and would reign over the earth forever. If you look at the economics, politics, and social conditions of the empire during the third century you will see exactly what impact, or lack there of the Christians had.
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From 235-284, the Roman Empire was engaging in civil war. Contenders for the throne bribed soldiers to become the next emperor. Although, out of 22 emperors, there were only two that didn’t meet with a violent or deadly demise.
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At the same time, Sassanid Persians were invading Rome and Valerian was captured and held in captivity until he died. German tribes were flooding into the empire, disrupting boundaries by moving into Greece and Asia minor. Aurelian tried to restore the empire by building new walls, however war and invasions had already taken their toll on the government. So where were the Christians at this time and what impact were they having? They weren’t present, nor did they have a hand in the invasions and civil war. However, Gibbons, if he were still alive would have probably placed a secret Christian sect at the hearth of the civil wars and invasions.
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Economically, farm production was deteriorating as fields were ravaged by barbarians and by Romes own armies. The Romans confiscated produce and livestock from farmers, therefore they themselves directly contributed to the failing economy. Gold coins were disappearing from circulation, while silver was being diluted causing inflation. To put it simply, the economy was being depleted by invasions and social issues, excluding religions that were monotheistic and were hardly having an impact of the fall at the time. However, it is quite possible that Gibbons would have said that the Christians brought the plague upon the soldiers of the Roman army; however that’s hardly a strong argument and we know that’s not a possibility.
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With the shortage of soldiers from the affects of the plague, barbarians were recruited to fight under Roman commanders. The barbarians had no understanding of Roman tradition and they had no attachment to the empire or the rulers. Even though Christians didn’t recognize state gods and the imperial authority, they hardly affected the security of the state like those of the barbarians during the third century. Furthermore, Christianity was seen as tolerable at the time, so it had not direct impact at this particular time in the Empire.
The Christian Martyrs’ Last Prayer, by Jean-Léon Gérôme (1883). Roman Colosseum.
Taking into account that the transformation of the Roman Empire during the third century was economically, politically, and socially destroying the system, it was hardly believable that Christianity was a major contributing factor for the fall. Although, Gibbons might disagree considering his ideals about disruption of the empire and the Christians hand in it. The fact is, when Christianity was evolving it was really just a distraction rather than a factor of destruction.
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Post CommentTeves
On October 29, 2009 at 10:58 am
Very nice information provided…
Pls read my article and leave a comment. Thanks!
http://authspot.com/poetry/heaven-37/
ken bultman
On October 29, 2009 at 11:58 am
I agree with your consensus. Excellent article. I suspect hedonism played a roled in the fall of the Roman Empire much in the manner it plays in the fall of individual empires.
Will Gray
On October 29, 2009 at 12:13 pm
Great article! I learned a lot.
Lostash
On October 29, 2009 at 4:43 pm
I’m not an expert on the Roman Empire, but I enjoyed your piece Lauren! I think Christianity causes more damage these days!
Vikram Chhabra
On October 29, 2009 at 4:44 pm
History is always written by the victors, as they say. I am sure that things are not always as we are told. This article was great Lauren. It touched on a topic that has defined western civilization as we know it and definitely needs more research such as this article performs!!!
Ruby Hawk
On October 29, 2009 at 8:27 pm
Great topic an lots of interesting information, well done.
Eunice Tan
On October 30, 2009 at 12:11 am
Thanks for interesting info. In the beginning I’m confused between Roman Empire and Holy Roman Empire.
CaSundara
On October 30, 2009 at 11:36 am
Very interesting, as usual. I’ve decided to study Classical Civilisations at A-level so no doubt this info will come in handy there.
Lauren Axelrod
On October 30, 2009 at 12:10 pm
@Eunice
The Holy Roman Empire really evolved during the Middle ages when Otto was crowned emperor.
@Casundra
I don’t think I’m surprised by your choice considering your love of ancient civilizations, with the added influence of theology.
Diverseblogger
On October 30, 2009 at 5:06 pm
Great piece! Keep up the great work
Brenda Nelson
On October 30, 2009 at 11:40 pm
Roman Emperor Constantine, was a pagan, yet he often pretended to be Christian, and is the one who set the day of worship for Christians from Saturday to Sunday. It is argued when (if at all) he really did convert to Christianity, although he is the one credited with compiling the Bible.
Melody SJAL
On October 31, 2009 at 11:05 am
Interesting and informative piece.
Lauren Axelrod
On October 31, 2009 at 2:16 pm
What I find even more interesting is the fact that Christians worshiped in private and secret areas at this time. It was quite bizarre. Almost like they were hiding something.
Auron Renius
On October 31, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Very interesting piece
eThib
On October 31, 2009 at 8:55 pm
I think the only thing they were ‘hiding’ Lauren, was themselves. You know..fed to lions, crucified, tied together and set aflame for light at some Roman festival.
edmuse22
On November 1, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Hi
I will try again to read his book I seem to only be able to read the first two chapters.
The little bit of history I had to study went with the barbarian invation theory.
Gibbon’s originated the barbarian theory as far as I know. He first wrote about it about three hundred years ago, in the classic, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. This book is still selling today. However, he also seemed to think that the Christians contributed to the fall as they were more interested in the life here after and didn\’t want to sacrifice for the Emperor in the present life any longer.
According to Wikipedia, Gibbons actually saw the Praetorian Guard, who abused their position as soldiers, as the start of the decline of Rome.
Lauren Axelrod
On November 1, 2009 at 2:52 pm
@eThib
When it actually came to these sacrificial festivals, they were more than willing to die for their faith. That’s all well and good for them, although their ideals of being martyrs for a faith that should stand on it’s own goes against present teachings in many monasteries. It certainly went against the ideals even during the Middle Ages. At least, that’s what was believed by the monks and the nuns.
@edmuse22
I have only read his first few chapters as well. It’s complicated and quite in depth, but interesting.
thestickman
On November 1, 2009 at 11:31 pm
Great point this. Likewise, former President Ronald Reagan is widely given credit for helping bring-down the Soviet Union by his tactic of outspending them in military preparedness and perhaps in the first sixth months he stabbed a few injurious blows, the Soviet Union was already gasping it’s last breathes and would have collapsed anyway. All Reagan did was run up the national deficit (and greatly improve our military readiness, for which we are still thankful.)
I see parallels to your article and the early 1980s Reagan Administration.
Great article, L!
-thestickman
Glynis Smy
On November 2, 2009 at 2:30 am
Another interesting and informative piece from you Lauren, thanks.
Patrick Bernauw
On November 2, 2009 at 4:14 am
Good article… as always!
Jonathan Greenleaf
On November 2, 2009 at 12:57 pm
I always agreed with Gibbon that Severus’ reign was the pivotal turning point – this quote was quite damning:
“The contemporaries of Severus in the enjoyment of the peace and glory of his reign, forgave the cruelties by which it had been introduced. Posterity, who experienced the fatal effects of his maxims and example, justly considered him as the principal author of the decline of the Roman Empire.”
pg 159 History of the decline and fall of the Roman empire, Volume 4
kate smedley
On November 2, 2009 at 1:20 pm
There’s also a theory (I think it may be Gibbon that suggested it but echoed by Jean Jacques Rousseau ‘The Noble Savage’) that the Romans lost their edge through becoming so self-indulgent and were then easily defeated by a firey tribe like the Celts. Excellent article Lauren, I studied the Enlightenment for a year and love all of this..
Brian Daniel Stankich
On November 4, 2009 at 9:46 am
Appreciate the history reminder/lesson. Suggesting that Christians as a movement affected anything is pretty funny. The real question Gibbon may have overlooked is what affect did individual Christians or small groups have upon key people in the empire that shaped the downfall. There was no central or organized movement of Christians back then so any overiding influence would have come in pockets here and there. For example, who shared the gospel with Constantine and what were the Christian influences on his life. Nice essay, Lauren. Brian
Brian Daniel Stankich
On November 4, 2009 at 9:50 am
After reading the comments…I think it is important to differentiate among different kinds of ‘martyrs.’ Christians weren’t lining up at the forums saying “please kill us for our faith.” In contrast, crazy extremist Muslims with their suicide bombs, do. There is a big difference and we should be careful who we call a martyr. We admire the early century Christians, not because they died willingly, but because their spirit in death was remarkably joyful, an evidence of true faith.
Joe Dorish
On November 4, 2009 at 6:37 pm
Agree with you Lauren, the Christians did not bring down the Roman Empire the Romans have themselves to blame for that. I’ve tried to read all the Great Books of the Western World but The Decline and Fall was just too much information going nowhere to hold my interest.
Janet Meyer
On November 10, 2009 at 4:40 pm
A very interesting article. I certainly enjoyed the read.
Janet Meyer
Themax
On November 23, 2009 at 6:27 pm
really great article and fun to read,Thanks!
Rossitza Ohridska-Olson
On December 3, 2009 at 10:07 pm
Great article and very well researched. BTW, this is what I learned in school. I don’t know how the idea of blaming the Christianity for the falling of an empire, encompassing so many nations and religions, can be accepted for a serious one. And, as Lauren points out, the main reasons for all political movements are economic. When the Romans could exploit the farmers from Iberia to Scitya and create prosperous cities from Cartage to Germany, the empire was stable. When the economy deteriorated, the empire crashed.
Even when Christian zealots are rightfully blamed for destroying great civilizations, such as the Maya, and Inca ones, still behind the conquistadors laid the pure economical ambition of the Spanish, Portuguese and British empires to find solution to their economic problems. No matter if they dressed it as “propagating the right faith”, not searching for the proverbial El Dorado.
Keep the good work, Lauren. An archaeologist with analytical mind and history common sense is a great luxury, which we afford less and less in our politicized world.
Ariel Avenasa
On December 6, 2009 at 1:55 am
Another nice one Lauren. The Roman Empire rotted from within which eventually brought their demise. Blaming their fall on Christianity is like blaming common cold for the death of a person who has HIV/AIDS. The problems were already there long before the cold that it was just a matter of time. As they say all things (good or bad) must come to an end….
Silent Wasp
On January 26, 2010 at 1:57 am
Its foolish to think that it was Christianity that destroyed the Roman empire when history clearly shows that, if anything, christianty helped preserve the roman empire. In the 4th century the western Roman empire crumbled as it was overrun by various tribes. This was not the case in the Eastern Roman empire, the Byzantines. The Byzantine Empire lasted untill the mid 1400s a duration of over 1000 years, the greek Orthodox faith being its very cohesive core! Therefore one needs to understand that the Roman empire was firstly weakened by the crusades and eventually destroyed by the Ottoman turks. Islamic expansionism and western european greed destroyed the Romans.
Bruce Officer
On October 21, 2010 at 6:29 pm
What did for the Roman Empire was that they never managed to develop a reliably stable way of transitioning from the rule of one emperor to the next, despite later attempts to have co-emperors and caesars, and with no particular qualifications needed (be that family line or social status) the top slot was open for any general to have a stab at, almost guarenteeing regular civil wars that would slowly bleed the Empire dry.
greenwood
On February 20, 2011 at 11:05 am
Roman Christians believed in the kingdom of heaven instead of the kingdom of man which made many educated roman citizens to take the spiritual path instead of taking a administrative position to govern the provinces. As well as not doing the Imperial Cult where the emperor was worshiped as a livivg representation of Rome itself. So Rome started to become gradually ‘unloved’.
Eventually the empire started to have a serious lack of people to govern the fringes of the empire. With this lack of administration power the local government became weaker which in turn gave away to a series of opportunities for invasions by barbaric tribes. A weaker Rome was destroyed by many factors and the cause of its weakeness was the lack of administrators due to the Christian ideals of riches after death and not to have worries about material things or even ‘reality’ itself.
Chris
On April 3, 2011 at 8:23 am
With all that aside the christians really did bring down the Roman empire after it was hijacked by the Christian emperors after Constantine. They turned it into a theorocracy and exacerbated the empires existing problems by quibbling about theological issues and wasted money and building churches instead of maintaining the empire. Also later christian emperors took away all religious freedom and imposed total christian orthodoxy, persecuting pagans and whoever resisted, a total reversal from the christian persecutions. As in 395 Theodosius declared Christianity the ONLY religion of the empire, specifically nicene Christianity as there were at the time many christian “heresies” that did not agree with the state church. So with that from the later 4th century until the fall of the west, not only was Rome being ransaked by barbarians from the abandoned frontiers but also being destroyed from the inside by theological dispute and religious persecution as there were so many interpretations about God and Jesus that christians would often persecute themselves, as was the norm for later time during the middle ages and beyond. But from that Edward Gibbon was right that Christianity played a key role in Rome’s fall as it accelerated the problems facing the empire and also brought the medieval mindset of focusing totally on God and church that would bring stagnation for over a millenium.