The Fall of Rome
By Michael Price Essay
How did Rome actually fall? Some people believe that Rome fell due to disease which made a decreased population in Rome. There are many good points for this case which I will be stating the facts and my beliefs in the following paragraphs.
Some people say that Rome actually fell to the disease that overtook Rome. Historians believe that the disease was caused through the blood left from the bloody gladiator battles that happened in the Colosseum. Wealthier families had died more, due to the fact that their water supply came through lead pipes into their houses, making it toxic. The less wealthy and unfortunate families often contracted diseases from the streets they lived on or from passers by which had diseases. Families that lived on the street would often pass their diseases to passers by, and make a chain of disease going. Living on the streets didn’t really help them, since they would got cold at nights and have no good shelter to keep away the heat or rain. Families that weren't affected from disease would often flee the city, sparing their life, which makes the Roman Empire lose its population. The Roman public sewers and drains were maintained fairly well, which were looked after by the Ancient Studies : The Fall of Rome state, while the private drains were maintained by the property owner. Most property owners were lazy, so they wouldn’t clean out their drains. A few drains of wealthy people were often connected up to the street drains or the public water supply, making it easier for the wealthy families, them not needing to clean their own drains. The Roman house often had their kitchens placed near their cesspits (toilet) where they had to clean their toilets out by hand. The Roman streets and sewers weren't really that well maintained, due to the fact that upper floor residents would usually be too lazy to go down stairs to use the toilets, so they would just urinate in their chamber pots then empty that out their windows, dumping it onto the street down below and passers by, having no regards for them. : Michael Price
The disease in Rome was a major problem, affecting the wealthy and the unfortunate families. This problem was all throughout Rome. It was said that around 30,000 residents would die from various types of diseases each year. All these residents dying from diseases decreased the size and population of Rome. Others fled Rome in fear of their health and lives, making Rome’s population decrease even more. Other people think that Rome did not fall to disease, and that this was just a cover-up to show how bad Rome’s sanitation was. In my opinion, I think that Rome fell to the disease ridden streets and infected people.
Bibliography
www.rome.info/history/empire/fall/ www.innominatesociety.com/Articles/Death%20and%20Disease%20in%20Ancient%20Rome.htm
Ancient Studies : The Fall of Rome
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Michael Price