• PugJesus@lemmy.world
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    1 day ago

    Rome’s fall was due to overexpansion, not fascist self-destruction.

    Definitely not due to overexpansion. ‘Fascism’ is a questionable label, but self-destruction, certainly. All of Rome’s institutions were hollowed out in service to autocracy, which, in turn, empowered an aristocracy wholly dependent on that same autocracy at the expense of the rest of society.

    That barbarians were loudly and insistently knocking at the door was just the trigger of the collapse, not the underlying cause.

    • disguy_ovahea@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      I was referring to the ungovernability of the empire due to its sheer size, not just the barbarian invasions they were spread too thin to defend against.

      The Roman Empire’s overexpansion is considered a major factor in its eventual collapse, as the vast territory it controlled became increasingly difficult to manage and defend, leading to logistical problems, strained military resources, and vulnerability to external threats from barbarian tribes, ultimately contributing to its decline and fall.

      https://www.history.com/news/8-reasons-why-rome-fell

      • sbv@sh.itjust.works
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        1 day ago

        Someone’s citing history at PugJesus!

        I wish Lemmy would let me subscribe to this thread.

      • PugJesus@lemmy.world
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        1 day ago

        I was referring to the ungovernability of the empire due to its sheer size,

        The Empire wasn’t ungovernable, though. Far from it. In fact, Roman governance was remarkably maintained throughout the decline and fall. As your quote demonstrates, claims that Rome fell to overexpansion rely on issues of defense.

        And the issue of defending Rome’s borders is a complex topic, but one where overexpansion is a very questionable position.