Military, Political Structures, and Infrastructure of Roman Republic - Essay Example

Introduction Rome evolved from a settlement to a to a republic and ultimately to an empire because of its people's ability to pioneer advances that solidified a strong, secure and stable society with a high quality of life. Steve Bonta asserts that "Rome in the eighth century B.C. was little more than an armed camp of brigands" that ended up becoming "the greatest man-made power the world had ever seen" (par. 2). The Roman Empire was largely built on military strength, political stability, and advanced infrastructure. Many of these factors were adapted by the Romans in a way that had never before been seen, essentially putting Rome on the cutting edge of civilization. The reasons for the decline of Rome are as intriguing as the factors contributing to its rise. In order to understand the causes of the collapse of the Roman Empire, it is essential to understand the confluence of circumstances and variables that contributed to its rise, for these are the same factors that were brought to such an excess that the Empire collapsed under its own weight. Ultimately, Rome's successful development of military might, political dominance and infrastructural innovation led to such an expansion of the Empire that it could not sustain its own mass. This development was driven largely by the egos of Rome's leaders, who believed Roman civilization was so superior that it was a gift to the world to have it spread as much as possible. Military Military might was arguably the first key factor that enabled the Romans to build their empire. This was achieved through "cultivation of virtues conducive to military strength: unswerving loyalty, obedience, frugality and disregard for peril to life and limb" (Bonta, par. 6). These virtues were evident from the very beginning of the evolution of Rome. Roman history, from its inception, is replete with monumental wars and battles, most of which resulted in Rome's victory and dominance, thereby paving the way for geographic expansion and assimilation of weaker neighbors. Bonta maintains that "for the most part, Roman military history is a dreary catalog of one-sided battles with outmatched and poorly organized foes, of the destruction or absorption of entire nations into the expanding Roman state, and of almost superhuman resilience in rebounding from rare defeats that would have broken the back of any other people" (par. 8). Clearly the expansion of the Roman Empire would not have been possible had Rome not been militarily dominant. And yet, over-zealous military adventures eventually resulted in the destruction of Rome. Political Structures Rome's political structures were cutting edge and in many ways ahead of their time. They vested real power in the hands of the people in a way that had rarely if ever been seen before; and did so in a way that struck a nearly perfect balance between stability and liberty (Bonta, par. 10). Rome "discovered a formula for limiting the power of government by dividing it among several different magistrates and elected bodies" and also "developed a code of written laws that defined and protected the rights of Roman citizens" (par. 10). These developments regarding separation of powers and personal liberty planted the seeds of political thought that served as the foundation of modern Western-style democracies. Roman citizens were genuinely empowered. They enjoyed an unprecedented degree of liberty that was protected by law, and had a hand in electing their government representatives. The satisfaction of common citizens with their representation in the government was a very important factor that led to the stability of the state. The masses, as a whole, felt politically content and this was a critical factor enabling the empire to evolve. Essentially, by giving people a stake in their political system, Rome ensured that it would not have to be distracted by the need to quell internal discontent, and could instead focus on external expansion. The problem for Rome was that these same political privileges were not afforded to many of those people who were assimilated by force into the empire. Taxation without representation was a serious problem; and conquered peoples retained a strong sense of their own national identities apart from Rome. Without the political privileges afforded to "proper" Romans, there was little glue to hold the Empire together when it became spread too thin. Keeping the Empire together by force of military was not exactly conducive to national cohesion. Therefore, political privilege, or lack thereof, actually became a source of discontent in far-flung areas of the Empire that was an important contributor to the collapse of the empire. Infrastructure Ancient Rome has many legacies, not least of which are the aqueducts that delivered water to the Empire's great cities. These mammoth feats of engineering were a hallmark of an advanced infrastructure that enabled the Empire to urbanize and grow economically. They also promoted a comfortable standard of living that was unknown elsewhere. Aqueducts enabled more affluent Romans to enjoy indoor plumbing in their homes, while providing baths, drinking fountains and wash basins throughout the city for the masses (Hollingsworth, para. 6). These were unheard of luxuries elsewhere in the civilized world, and further contributed to the contentment of the Romans with their general situation. Public venues such as the famed Roman Coliseum further contributed to a sense of community that strengthened the fabric of Roman society. The ability of the masses to enjoy leisure time, the diversion of congregating as spectators, evidenced the economic advancement of the Empire. While Rome had become an advanced, urbanized society, most other societies continued to be agrarian in nature, where people only had the time and the means to work during their waking hours. Again, however, this technological and economic advancement was a double-edged sword for Rome. It cultivated an atmosphere of privilege among a minority of Romans that bred resentment elsewhere in the Empire. It also enabled such a geographic stretch of the Empire that it eventually became unsustainable to hold together. Ultimately, Romans became so complacent with their elevated standard of living that they failed to attend to the difficult work of tending to the needs and interests of the remote corners of the Empire. Conclusion The Roman Empire has left many legacies that continue to influence modern civilization. The culture, political system and infrastructure of ancient Rome resonate in many of the institutions and practices with which we are familiar today. From separation of powers and representative government to modern plumbing, Rome has influenced civilization in myriad ways that many take for granted. Rome was ahead of its time in political, social and economic development, and in engineering advances. The ingenuity of the Roman people - leading to military might, political strength and advanced infrastructure - was the real factor enabling them to build an empire. Nevertheless, this success led to demise, as the Empire became spread too thin to really include all of its constituents in the advantages and privileges that marked Roman life. Works Cited Bonta, Steve. "The Birth of the Republic." The New American. 20(2004):34. Hollingsworth, Anthony. "Watering the Empire." Calliope. 16(2005):24. Read More