That's a new one. I've heard that the Roman Empire fell because of reliance on barbarian mercenaries, lead poisoning, paganism and even because of gay marriage. I've never before heard that the Roman Empire fell because it rejected the Free Market Fairy.
It was a combination of many things, but mostly economic. Devaluing their currency to continue wars and expand the Empire. The Republic had a better balance of competing interest, but the Empire was more centralized, like all dictatorships. All the resources in Rome were eventually gobbled up to continue the empire and like the U.S., you were either politically connected businessman that supplied the endless needs of empire or you were just another chump that got taxed into oblivion.
That's a new one. I've heard that the Roman Empire fell because of reliance on barbarian mercenaries, lead poisoning, paganism and even because of gay marriage. I've never before heard that the Roman Empire fell because it rejected the Free Market Fairy.
It was a combination of many things, but mostly economic. Devaluing their currency to continue wars and expand the Empire. The Republic had a better balance of competing interest, but the Empire was more centralized, like all dictatorships. All the resources in Rome were eventually gobbled up to continue the empire and like the U.S., you were either politically connected businessman that supplied the endless needs of empire or you were just another chump that got taxed into oblivion.