DBQ: The Fall of the Roman Empire

In the course of the third century, the Roman Empire came to near collapse. Military monarchy [...] which restored order after a series of civil wars, was followed by military anarchy [disorder] in the third century. For the next forty-nine years, the Roman imperial throne was occupied by anyone who had the military strength to seize it -- a total of twenty-two emperors [...] At the same time, the empire was beset [threatened] by a series of invasions, no doubt exacerbated [worsened] by the civil wars [...] There was a noticeable decline in trade and small industry, and the labor shortage caused by the plague affected both military recruiting and the economy. Armies were needed more than ever, but financial strains made it difficult to pay and enlist more soldiers. By the mid-third century, the state had to hire Germans to fight under Roman commanders.

There had always been famines and plagues, military disasters, civil wars, attempts to seize supreme power, rebellions within the provinces, raids and invasions from beyond the frontier, and migrating tribes pressing on the edges of the Roman world. The Romans had dealt with all of these in the past and survived. The trouble was that in the third century many problems surfaced at the same time, some of them on a grander scale than ever before, and they proved more difficult to eradicate [destroy]... The northern world outside the Roman Empire was restless. Raids across the frontiers became more severe, especially in the 230s, when Roman forts and some civilian settlements were partially destroyed...

Rulers of the Roman Empire in the Third Century, Compiled by the Met Museum

The Huns exceed any definition of savagery...Although they have the shape [...] of human beings, they are so wild in their way of life that they have no need of fire or pleasant tasting foods, but eat the roots of uncultivated plants and half-raw flesh of all sorts of animals...Huns are almost glued to their horses, which are certainly hardy, but also ugly...Like refugees-all without permanent settlements, homes, law, or a fixed way of life-they are always on the move...Like unthinking animals, they are completely ignorant of the difference between right and wrong. Fired with an overwhelming desire for seizing the property of others, these swift-moving, and ungovernable people make their destructive way amid the pillage and slaughter of those who live around them.

The manner of arming the troops comes next under consideration. But the method of the ancient Romans no longer is followed. For though we have made some improvements in the arms of the cavalry, yet it is plain [obvious] the infantry is entirely defenseless. From the foundation of the city till the reign of the Emperor Gratian, the foot wore cuirasses and helmets. But negligence and sloth [laziness] have created a total relaxation of discipline--the soldiers began to think their armor too heavy, and they seldom [rarely] put it on. They first requested leave from the Emperor to lay aside the cuirass [a piece of armor] and afterwards the helmet. In consequence of this, our troops were often overwhelmed with showers of arrows when fighting the Goths...Repeated defeats brought on the destruction of so many great cities.

He [The Greek merchant] considered his new life among the Scythians [Huns and Goths] better than his old life among the Romans, and the reasons he gave were as follows: "After war the Scythians live in inactivity, enjoying what they have got [...] The Romans, on the other hand, are in the first place very liable [likely] to perish in war...and are hindered by the cowardice of their generals...But the condition of the citizens [of Rome] in time of peace is far more grievous than the evils of war, for the taxes are very severe, and unprincipled men inflict injuries on others, because the law is practically not valid against them. A transgressor [wrongdoer] who belongs to the wealthy classes is not punished for his injustice, while a poor man, who does not understand business, undergoes the legal penalty [...] The climax of the misery is to have to pay in order to obtain justice. For no one will give a court to the injured man unless he pays a sum of money to the judge and the judge's clerks."

But the decline of Rome was the natural and inevitable effect of immoderate [excessive] greatness...or at least the perception of greatness...Prosperity ripened decay...The union of the many portions of the empire was made by the loss of national freedom of its people and loss of military spirit; and the provinces expected their safety from the mercenary [hired] troops and governors who were directed by the orders of a distant court in Rome. The happiness of a hundred millions depended on the personal merit of one or two men whose minds were corrupted by luxury and despotic power.