Commodus and the Fall of the Roman Empire

The antonine plague had sapped the strength of both the legions and the civilian population, reducing the roman ranks at every level. The brief revolt of avidius cassius hinted that the unity between the eastern and western halves of the empire was beginning to crack. When all is well, everyone loves everyone else. When times get tough, everyone to look at every one else as the cause of their misfortune. Next week we will see what commodus did to exasperate the situation.