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Growing Poor In Ancient Rome Essay

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-Growing poor: The Roman Empire, as it got bigger, became more dependent on large amounts of slave labor. The massive influx of slaves often caused small farmers and common workers, who prospered during the early Republic, to go out of business. These people formed the urban poor. Christianity started out very strong among the poor, and its message of salvation in another life and the leaving earthly possessions was received most among the poor

The slave situation, however, contributed to Rome's decline, since, when the expansion of the Empire slowed down, it did not have as many people to enslave, and faced major problems.

-Plagues, Invasions, and War: From the third century on, Rome's situation got a lot more unstable. Thousands of people fell victim to plagues, barbarians started attacking the Empire, and there were many bloody civil wars that took place. In this climate, people were likely drawn to the promise of an afterlife (which traditional Roman religion did not believe in), and the idea that the woes of life are only a test from God. Such a sentiment would not have been as strong during Rome's golden years of peace. …show more content…
Churches were built at state expense, church councils had legal sway, priests and bishops were allowed to use the state infrastructure for their own purposes, ect. At a time when money was desperately needed to pay soldiers, money was spent on some of the most extravagant churches ever built. It had also been argued by the likes of Edward Gibbon (though I don't agree that this had much of an impact) that many people who would have served Rome better as soldiers or rulers instead became priests or monks, thus spreading Christianity at the expense of the

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