Did the citizens of Rome become lazy and satisfied?

Answer 1

Yes, this was definitely an issue in Rome. Originally Roman soldiers would pay for their equipment they needed in war. During the days of the Republic it was modified so that the state would have to pay for the equipment so that allowed the poor to serve and have a chance to earn their own farms in retirement. This would lead to the increasing use of non Romans in the armies, and definitely played a part in Rome's downfall.

Answer 2

There were many reasons apart from discontent in Rome. The Roman Empire became to big to control. The army and families in distant lands assumed local customs and lost local discipline. Barbarians took advantage of this opportunity. The army stopped wearing armour which made them vulnerable to the enemy. Leaders were incompetent and rewards unfair. Corruption was rampant. The system was disintergrating from within. The enemies took over Roman Africa and Spain was lost to the Sueves. Revenue was lost and the Empire could not pay its way. In Rome, there were public health and environmental problems, disease spread and the consumption of alcohol increased rendering a general incompetency.

In a hundred year period there were 37 Emperors which added to the failure of the political system. The farming system failed, the economy suffered from inflation. People stopped using money and bartered with fruit and vegetables instead. Scientific achievement failed to advance and the infrastructure decayed. Trade and business disappeared. The Germanic tribes then over-ran the Roman Empire

Answer 3

The citizens of Rome became dissatisfied with the imperial state towards the end of the Roman Empire due to disproportionate taxation.