What were the internal problems in the roman empire that threatened its existence?

Answer 1

because the slaves were worked so hard that the Romans didnt farm, therfor making it difficult to come up with better farming tools.

Answer 2

The decline of the Roman Empire started in what has been called the Crisis of the Third Century, during which:

a) There were constant invasions across the frontiers of the empire which massively overstretched the army

b) There was a string of military rebellions and usurpations with as many as 35 usurper emperors. Two parts of the empire broke away for a short time.

c) There was runaway inflation.

Hyperinflation was caused by many years of debasement of the Roman coins. The silver and gold content of silver and gold coins had been continually decreased by many emperors to make more coins to finance their expenses and to increase the size and the pay of the army. This devalued the coins. The coins eventually came to have virtually no value. They had as little as only 5 % of precious metal. This led to runaway inflation. The usurper emperors made this worse by issuing their own coins, which further increased the supply of money. The effects of out of control inflation were:

1) A breakdown in trade. It became difficult to exchange goods with a worthless currency.

2) The urban economy collapsed. Manufacturing in cities shrunk because their goods, which were for long-distance trade, could not be traded.

3) Agricultural production on the large landed estates became localised. Sales of crops for the cities decreased and these estates concentrated on production for local barter.

4) Many people migrated from the cities to the countryside and the population of the cities shrunk.

5) The owners of the large estates employed the migrants from the cities as servile labour. These people lost their rights and became tied to their landlords.

6) Distressed peasants who were leaseholders on the large estates were leaving their land in search for better opportunities. They were often turned into servile labour in the large estates as well.

6) The tax revenue of the state decreased, while expenditure increased as the size of the army increased. The mentioned invasions also led to greater reliance on a much expanded cavalry, which was expensive.

7) Taxation was increased and was raised in the form of demanding goods, which did not help the economy. Emperor Diocletian resorted to confiscating goods. These were ended by Constantine, but taxation remained a burden on the people for the rest of the history of the empire.

Constantine I, or the Great, managed to bring inflation under control by scrapping the silver coins and amassing large quantities of gold to create a viable gold coinage. However, this benefitted only those who could afford gold coins. The masses had to make do with copper token money (the follis) which had been created because the previous coins had collapsed. The follis was very vulnerable to inflation. The overall result of the crisis was a decline of the economy of the empire which became fragmented and localised. Trade did not regain its previous levels, the economy remained less based on money and the gap between the rich and the poor who had to rely of the vulnerable follis widened . The changes in the economic structure created by the crisis were irreversible.

Answer 3

Internal problems which could destabilise the empire were conspiracies against the emperor, military rebellions, usurpations and extravagant emperors whose lavish spending emptied the coffers of the state. Occasionally there were also riots. There was what historians have called the Crisis of the Third Century were rebellions by the legions or high ranking politicians were common and there were as many as 35 usurper emperors (who were all defeated). There were also two parts of the empire which broke away from the empire for short periods. The crisis of the third Century also saw the economic decline of the empire. Hyperinflation led to a collapse in trade. This led to a sharp decline in the urban economy as the cities produced manufactures for long distance trade. Many people migrated to the countryside. The agricultural economy switched from commercial agriculture to supply the cities to production for the local markets. Although the problem of runaway inflation was eventually resolved, the economy of the empire never fully recovered.

Answer 4

the attack of many enemys

Answer 5

money problems