Internal Conflict In Rome

In the third century, Rome was experiencing extreme amounts of turmoil. Some of their problems were coming from tribes outside of Rome. Germanic tribes were attacking from the north and Middle Eastern tribes from the east. They were undergoing economic depression and rapid changes in leadership. How did external and internal conflict lead to the beginning of the fall of Rome in the third century and which type of conflict was more detrimental to Rome?

At the beginning of the second century in 161, Marcus Aurelius came to power. He ruled with his half-brother Lucius Verus for the first few years of his rule. A big problem for the Romans during this time came after Aurelius sent an army as far east as Rome had ever been. When the army returned,

It lasted for almost fifteen years. It caused many problems within Roman society. Since so many men were dying it depleted their army. It also led to a depression in the economy. A few years later Germanic tribes were coming from the east and posing a threat to Rome. Since Rome’s army had been depleted, it was the perfect time for the Germanic tribes to invade. At first, they were only invading and raiding parts of Rome, but then they began to attempt to settle in Roman territories. Rome was also being threatened by Middle Eastern tribes. The Sassanid Persians wanted to reestablish the Persian Empire. To do this they were attempting to move their borders into Roman lands. During the second century, Rome experienced many victories but also many losses.

During this time Rome was struggling within due to a civil war where five men were all fighting for the chance to become emperor. This was called the year of the five emperors. The first ruler, Marcus Aurelius, was in power for twelve years. Aurelius was murdered by strangulation after a failed attempt at

The first emperor, named Maximinus Thrax was a tyrant. He would kill people if he had any suspicion that they were crossing him. Maximus caused there to be a greater separation between the governing class and the rest of the people. The next emperor, Gordian put himself in power because aristocrats asked him to do so. He also ruled with his son Gordian II. The Gordian’s reigned for all of twenty days before Capelianus attacked and defeated them. Maximinus turned on Rome and came to attack them with his own army. No one wanted Maximinus to be in power again so two senators were chosen. Their names are Pupienus and Balbinus. No one agreed with this choice, so a young boy named Gordian III was chosen. Maximinus was unsuccessful in his attempt to take over Rome. Rome was being attacked on two sides by Germanic and Middle Eastern tribes. This severely weakened Rome’s military but also it weakened their economy. While the external forces were detrimental to Rome their internal struggles seem to be what caused the start of their decline. The constant change of leadership was extremely detrimental to Rome. People came to power of their own accord and not in a regimented or regulated way. This allowed for them to do whatever they pleased. Emperors made their own armies to attack Rome if they were unhappy with different things that were going