The Fall Of The Roman Empire - 1440 Words

Sophie Loren Plays a Leading Role in the Fall of the Roman Empire? The reason for the fall of the Roman Empire is a controversial topic under much historical debate. How did such a great empire, known for being one of the largest that lasted over a millennium, fall? The Roman Empire transitioned from a republic to an empire in 31 BCE. Augustus Caesar was the first emperor. He created harmony in Rome, but not in calendars as he added August as the eighth month to follow July, which was named after Julius Caesar. Apparently, being the first emperor of the powerful Roman Empire was not enough. Many things were not enough for the Romans. It was their strive for power and land that they were able to build up their legendary empire, but it would also be one of their greatest downfalls. The Roman Empire was at its acme in 117 CE. It stretched from the Atlantic Ocean to the Euphrates River in the Middle East, but like the stock market, it crashed or fell. The empire would grow too vast to be ruled by solely the central government of Rome, so in 285 CE Emperor Diocletian divided the empire into a Western and an Eastern Empire. Each empire would have its own leaders. When speaking of the Fall of Rome, many only account the Western Empire. Some historians believe that this split alone was what caused Rome to fall. However, others believe that there are multiple factors that caused the fall of the Roman Empire. In fact, most classicists, those who study ancient Greek and Latin,Show MoreRelatedFall of the Roman Empire1288 Words   |  6 PagesThe Pax Romana was a two hundred year time period where the Romans had peace and prosperity under Augustus. The Roman empire started to decline at the end of the prevail of the last five emperors, Marcus Aurelius in 161-180 A.D. The rulers in the next century had no idea how to deal with the problems the empire was having. There was many reasons to the fall of the Roman Empire but three stood out the most. The preliminary reason was the economy begins to decline. The alternative reasoning was RomeRead MoreThe Fall Of The Roman Empire1537 Words   |  7 PagesAncient Rome was an empire so dominant, wealthy and economically- stable which came to a dramatic fall in the period of 250AD- 500AD. Ancient Rome faced unexplained unfortunate events which crumbled the Great Empire from the affluent empire to a impoverished society. For centuries historians have timelessly theorised and analysed many debates and research in relation to the Fall of the Roman Empire. What really caused the predominate Roman Empire to fall? Did Rome fall naturally? Was disease, suchRead MoreFall of the Roman Empire758 Words   |  4 PagesTaylor Davino Professor Horsley HIS 126 3 March 2010 The fall of the Roman Empire Political, economic and social aspects were all involved in the fall of the Roman Empire. In 395 A.D., Rome was divided into two empires, with one capital in Rome and the other in Constantinople. During that time, the western Roman Empire was being invaded by barbarian tribes from the North. In 410, the Visigoth tribe succeeded in conquering the western capital in Rome. In 476, the western EmperorRead MoreThe Fall Of The Roman Empire1419 Words   |  6 PagesThe Roman Empire was a powerful governing body of extensive political and social structures throughout western civilization. How did this empire fall and were internal factories responsible? Slow occurrences in succession to one another led to the fall of the empire rather than one single event. The fall of the Roman Empire was a combination of both internal and external pressures, not just one, leading up to the complete decay of the cities—Rome and Constantinople. However, one could argue how oneRead MoreThe Fall Of Ro man Empire1185 Words   |  5 PagesThe Fall of Roman Empire Roman Empire was considered as one of the most influential and dominant Empire in the history that has ever existed. â€Å"The Roman Empire at its zenith in the period of the Principate (roughly, 27 BC to AD 235) covered vast tracts of three continents, Europe, Africa, and Asia† (Garnsey). It was an ancient, modern Empire, and it supported anyone who made discoveries and technological improvements. The Empire was the strongest governing body in the Mediterranean. If the RomanRead MoreFall of Roman Empire1175 Words   |  5 PagesThe Fall of the Roman Empire The Ancient Roman empire was one of the most prominent and successful societies of its time period. By the end of their reign, the Romans had conquered almost all of the Mediterranean including parts of present day Europe, Asia, and Africa. Rome was at its strongest during the rule of Augustus Caesar, this time was known as the â€Å"Pax Romana† or Roman peace. It wasn’t until later, when Emperor Trajan took over in about 98 C.E. that the Empire reached its peak. AfterRead MoreThe Fall of the Roman Empire609 Words   |  3 PagesThe Fall of the Roman Empire There are adherents to single factors, but more people think Rome fell because of a combination of such factors as Christianity, and economy, and military problems. Even the rise of Islam is proposed as the reason for Romes fall, by some who think the Fall of Rome happened at Constantinople in the 15th Century. Most people think it occurred during the fifth century, after the western division of the empire. There were several reasons for the fall of the Roman EmpireRead MoreThe Fall Of The Roman Empire1438 Words   |  6 PagesThe Roman Empire was one of the most powerful empires in the history of mankind. In 476 CE Odoacer defeated Romulus Augustus to capture Rome; most historians agree that this was the official end of the Western Roman Empire. There is much debate on how exactly Rome declined and eventually fell. The fall of Rome was a long process that took place over many centuries. There are five main schools of thought on why Rome fell. First, Christianity, offered by Edward Gibbons; He suggests that ChristianityRead MoreThe Fall Of The Roman Empire1495 Words   |  6 PagesFor a long period of time, the debate about the cause of the fall of the Roman Empire has been a popular topic amongst historians. Most of these historians look at the issue from a standpoint that accepts that there were most likely several causes. The main root of the issue is whether or not these causes were internal or external. Some historians even go more in depth and try to hypothesize what the internal or external causes were. In fact, Adrian Goldsworthy and Peter Heather do just this whenRead MoreThe Fall Of The Roman Empire1430 Words   |  6 Pages While the fall of the Roman Empire is well known, the exact causes of why it fell can be difficult to pinpoint. Many historians believe that Rome s downfall was due to poor leadership, weakened economics, or perhaps a combination of the two along with other seemingly unrelated factors. However, there is a string of evidence suggesting that there were three main components that took place to bring about the fall of the Roman Empire. These determinant attributes did not happen all at once, and there

Tony Kushner Angels In America Essay Example For Students

Tony Kushner: Angels In America Essay Explore how any playwright of the time has successfully dramatised a social issue. Contemporary theatre has stepped further and further away from the sugar-coated happy society plays and musicals that once dominated Broadway and the West End. Now, harsher more realistic stories with issues facing todays society and politics are shocking that conventional-type of theatre. ?Shock is a part of art. Art thats polite is not much fun? (Kushner:Bernstein). One of these stories that have made this kind of impact on modern drama and theatre is Tony Kushners ?Angels in America.? Described as ?the best American play in forty years,? this two part play (?Millennium Approaches? and ?Perestroika?) gives to life a variety of different issues facing not just the American society it is set in but the modern world as well (Lucas). With the main story line dealing with gays, politics, and AIDS in the 1980s, with this ?A Gay Fantasia on National Themes Kushner has successfully explored these issues in further detail ultimately ?nudging Broadway into the 21st century? (Winship). The gay revolution took place in America in the 1980s which, consequently, is the setting for ?Angels in America?. The strong economy gave many of ?Reagans children? power and courage to be more open with their sexuality (Part One: Act II, scene vii). People were ?coming out, so to speak, more than in previous decades. With five out of eight of the main characters in the play being gay males, and half of those in high power positions (i.e. law), the setting and political information discussed support the truth that Kushner writes about the gay community. ?Good politics will produce good aesthetics, really good politics will produce really good aesthetics, and really good aesthetics, if somebodys really asking the hard questions and answering them honestly, theyll probably produce truth? (Kushner:Bernstein). There is truth at the most basic of levels when, Joe, chief clerk for a Federal Court of Appeals judge, admits that he is homosexual (Part One: Act II, scene viii). Also truth to the most extreme, a consequence leading to death for many homosexuals: HIV and the AIDS virus, involving Roy the successful lawyer/power broker (Part Two: Act IV, scene viiii). ?Angels in America? is not just a ?gay play, but a play about American politics as well. The appearance of politics, not to mention homosexuality and AIDS, are issues resisted by most critics and audiences. Despite the odds, the subjects have proved successful to Kushner. The political element in this play is one that is a key in the story line and something not seen in many plays before this time. ?Is it that Americans dont like politics, or is it that so much theatre that is political isnt well done (Kushner:Bernstein) It is mentioned in detail and is even non-fictional, as mentioned in Kushners disclaimer for ?Perestroika?. This type of detail given at an aesthetic approach essentially gives the audience a life-like story and the characters that life to portray. The change the Reagan era caused in politics and the country is expressed by these characters as a part of that society. For example, Joe, representing the optimistic opinion, discusses with Harper the positive change that the Reagan administration has given to the country:?For the good. Change for the good. America has rediscovereditself. Its sacred position among nations. And people arent ashamedof that like they used to beThe truth restored. Law restored. Thats what President Reagans done.We become better. Moregood? (Part One: Act One, scene v). As Belize, representing the more pessimistic opinion, discusses to Louis of his hate of America under Reagan:?Well I hate America, Louis. I hate this country. Its just big ideas,and stories, and people dying, and people like youI live in America,Louis, thats hard enough. I dont have to love it? (Part Two: Act IV, scene iii). The varying opinions, openly discussed by these characters, represent the same doubts and hopes of that American society. ?I think that a characters politics have to live in the same sort of relationship to the characters psyche that peoples politics live in relationship to their own psyches? (Kushner:Bernstein). Just the detailed political statements that the characters give in relation to society are enough to leave the audience thinking and questioning that power-hungry society of the 1980s. Yet, Kushner gives this a further twist by making the audience really test their political views. As they may be able to associate with these conservative political views, will they still be able to agree with that same character and their view on alternative sexuality? This is another part of Kushners penetrating conception of ?Angels in America?, testing the conventional politics to the new political issues of the 1980s: homosexuals. Is Feminism Really A Theme In Ibsens, A Dolls House? EssayThe graphic details Kushner describes about living and dying with the disease give both the audience a view of a horrifying disease and a hope for the future. His writing in this element is not pessimistic, as it could easy be, but instead very hopeful through the death scenes to the end of the play:PRIOR: ? Im almost done. The fountains not flowing now but in the summer its a sight to see. I want to be around to seeit. I plan to be. I hope to beThis disease will be the end of many of us, but not nearly all, and the dead will becommemorated and will struggle on with the living, and we are not going away. We wont die secret deaths anymoreWewill be citizens. The time has come? (Part Two: Epilogue). The most potent command on how to look on the AIDS Epidemic is written metaphorically in Kushners character Aleksii, the worlds oldest living Bolshevik:?If the snake sheds his skin before a new skin is ready, naked hewill be in the world, prey to the forces of chaos. Without hisskin he will be dismantled, lose coherence and die. Have you,my little serpents, a new skin (Part Two: Act I, scene i). Kushners research shows and gives such a clear view of this disease and its effect on society. Though he is hopeful throughout some of the play about AIDS, he does not make any scene dealing with the virus pleasant to imagine but real and horrible as it is. The world of today is not of free and easy going lifestyles as in previous generations, and the theatre of the period reflects that. This ?epic for our epoch? brought to the stage the realism of the political world, the gay community, and the AIDS virus (Kelly). These social elements were successfully faced head-on by Kushner and transferred just as successfully to the stage. ?Angels in America? is a play that searches into that new and frightening aspect of modern life and has the ?transforming power of imagination to turn devastation into beauty? (Lahr). Audiences and readers of the future may see these plays as dated, but they were monumental at the time and still are even today some 13 years past the setting. The subject and the courage to bring these issues to the stage were one of sheer amazement. The imagination used has no parallel that television or movies can or could ever present. The poetic vision along with the concrete images and controversial issues make ?Angels in Ame rica? a masterpiece and Kushner an artist. Works CitedAngels In America Part One: Millennium Approaches. Tony Kushner. Royal National Theatre and Nick Hern Books, London. 1992. Angels In America Part Two: Perestroika. Tony Kushner. Royal National Theatre and Nick Hern Books, London. 1992. ?Tony Kushner: The award-winning author of ?Angels in America advises you to trust neither art nor artists.? Tony Kushner:Andrea Bernstein. Mother Jones, http://www.mojones.com. ?Reviews of ?Angels in America: Millennium Approaches and Perestroika?Kelly, Kevin. The Boston GlobeLahr, John. The New YorkerLucas, Graig. Winship, Fredrick M. United Press International. Tony Kushner Offical Web Site, www.irsociety.com/kushner.htmlTheater