Ideas The Never-Ending Fall of Rome
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Jan 15, 2025 Explore the internal factors that led to the fall of the Roman Empire and how it has been used to express concerns throughout history. Delve into the persecution of Christians in Rome, the rhetoric of decline and its modern implications, moral and cultural decadence, President Nixon's reaction to a TV episode on homosexuality, the Roman understanding of manliness and sexuality, and the perception of moral decline throughout history.
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The Fall of Rome: A Political Idea
- The "fall of Rome" exists as a political idea, not just a historical event.
- Politicians use it to label anxieties about societal change.
Canadian anxieties about the fall of Rome
- In 1930, Senator Jean-Charles Chape blamed divorce for Rome's decline.
- Senator Arthur Robuck, in 1968, attributed it to gangs of youth.
Roman Rhetoric of Decline
- Romans used the rhetoric of decline even during Rome's rise.
- Cato the Elder used this rhetoric to advance his political career.