HISTORY
The Role of Immigration in the Fall of the Roman Empire
Should these similarities make us concerned?
They say that those who fail to learn from history are destined to repeat it. When I learned several years back about the factors that contributed to the decline and fall of Rome, I was not surprised at the role immigration played. What did — and still does — surprise me is how the immigration issue is never brought up as something that has historical precedents.
Immigration was not the sole factor in the fall of Rome, but it was definitely one of the factors that contributed to the fall of this once-great empire. And when one looks back at that period of history, it makes sense. (Common sense is no longer common, unfortunately.)
During the later years of the Roman Empire, particularly in the 4th and 5th centuries AD, the empire faced significant challenges from both external invasions and internal unrest. Here are a couple of the ways immigration played a role in these challenges. Look at the parallels to what’s been happening in Europe and the U.S. today.
Economic Strain
The influx of immigrants placed strain on the Roman economy, particularly as the empire struggled to provide resources and employment for its growing…
