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Joe | Posted: Jun 29, 2011 - 19:08 |
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Level: 8 CS Original | A Poster posted this: Many historians argue that the rapid growth of the empire over a relatively short time and the economic inflation that followed contributed substantially to the empire's decay. Due to the vast size of the empire, it required an enormous budget to maintain the infrastructure necessary for its survival, including roads (essential for communication, transportation, and the moving of armies) and aqueducts (many cities relied on the water thus provided). Moreover, the empire faced enemies on all sides due to its expansion into their territories, and huge sums of silver and gold were required to keep up its armies. To cope with both problems, the empire was forced to raise taxes frequently, and also to adulterate its coins, causing inflation to skyrocket into hyperinflation. This in turn caused major economic stresses that some historians regard as central in Rome's decline. The Romans had no budgetary system and thus wasted whatever resources they had available. The economy of the Empire was a Raubwirtschaft or plunder economy based on looting existing resources rather than producing anything new. The Empire relied on booty from conquered territories (this source of revenue ending, of course, with the end of Roman territorial expansion) or on a pattern of tax collection that drove small-scale farmers into destitution (and onto a dole that required even more exactions upon those who could not escape taxation), or into dependency upon a landed élite exempt from taxation. The Roman Empire produced few exportable goods. Material innovation, whether through entrepreneurialism or technological advancement, all but ended long before the final dissolution of the Empire. Meanwhile the costs of military defense and the pomp of Emperors continued. Financial needs continued to increase, but the means of meeting them steadily eroded. In the end due to economic failure, even the armor of soldiers deteriorated and the weaponry of soldiers became so obsolete that the enemies of the Empire had better armor and weapons as well as larger forces. To Which a poster replyed this: history shows all Empires rise , are prosperous , then decline ..how will the USA be any different ? | |||||
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Wolf Bird | Posted: Jun 29, 2011 - 19:18 |
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I shoot you dead. Level: 9 CS Original | Yay collapse porn! God, I swear these people want collapse, chaos, etc. | |||||
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Joe | Posted: Jun 29, 2011 - 19:26 |
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Level: 8 CS Original | I thought that the bad history was good. I take it that the Knights Templars went back in time to the Roman Empire. | |||||
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Wolf Bird | Posted: Jun 29, 2011 - 19:31 |
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I shoot you dead. Level: 9 CS Original | You seem to have a lot of cranks where you live, Joe. | |||||
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Muertos | Posted: Jun 29, 2011 - 20:08 |
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Paid Disinformation Blogger Level: 14 CS Original |
False.
Somewhat true, but overstated.
False.
Egregiously false.
False.
False.
False.
Definitely misleading, could arguably be called false.
Maybe at VTV's Dungeons & Dragons table, but not in any historical scenario I'm familiar with. | |||||
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The Real Roxette | Posted: Jun 30, 2011 - 05:45 |
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There ARE more sluts in public schools. Shut up and let me explain. Level: 8 CS Original |
I guess if they were time travelers, sure, why not? Also lol @ hyperinflation in the Roman Empire. | |||||
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Joe | Posted: Jun 30, 2011 - 14:17 |
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Level: 8 CS Original | From a new poster: But the Knights Templars would survive in the guise of the Freemasons." | |||||
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Muertos | Posted: Jun 30, 2011 - 14:26 |
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Paid Disinformation Blogger Level: 14 CS Original | Them's fighting words. When wingnuts start twisting Byzantine history to fit into their collapse porn fantasies, that's when I get angry. | |||||
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Wolf Bird | Posted: Jun 30, 2011 - 14:50 |
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I shoot you dead. Level: 9 CS Original | Is there anything the bankers DIDN'T do? | |||||
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Agent Matt | Posted: Jun 30, 2011 - 15:03 |
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Genuine American Monster Level: 70 CS Original | Those sinister Jews, oops, sorry I mean bankers. | |||||
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Kepp | Posted: Jun 30, 2011 - 15:38 |
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Level: 5 CS Original |
I lol'ed! | |||||
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