Picture an influential government overflowing with appealing morals, vast acquired land, and a strong military. Does the Roman Empire or perhaps the United States come to mind? This, in fact, describes both civilizations. The striking parallels between the United States and Rome are alarming; particularly the underlying motives of war, the treatment of soldiers post war, and the materialistic values of both societies. With that being said, it is questioned if the United States is on a path towards self-destruction much like the collapse of the Roman Empire around 500 C.E. Although the United States is not categorized as an empire, there is evidence that has shown it has imperialized external countries. Informally, the United States is an empire which attempts to control and revolutionize other countries due to selfish motivations. The United States fully believed in the idea of manifest destiny, where American settlers thought they were destined to expand what land they owned, and perhaps that same belief still holds true. By 1890, there was not any more land to possess and as a result, the United States began waging the Spanish-American War in 1898 to obtain more territory. The battles' intentions seem to reflect those which involved the Roman Empire "which spread its laws, its culture, and its peace" in hopes of becoming powerful among the world (Reilly 189). Just like the United States today, the Roman Empire imperialized countries and lands to accommodate the needs of the empire. Even now, the United States maintains countless military bases around the world to ensure and exercise global authority. Although the Roman Empire grew, it was never satisfied with what it obtained, just as the United States does today (2-13 Bacevich). Presently, the United States places a high value on its military power and often boasts of its strength in the news. Not only does
It is somehow strange for today’s reader to find out that the situation with America’s foreign affairs hasn’t changed much. As some clever people have said, “The History book on the shelf is always repeating itself.” Even after nineteen years, Americans think of themselves as citizens of the strongest nation in the world. Even after the September the 11th. Even after Iraq. And Afghanistan.
Throughout the course of history, nations have invested time and manpower into the colonizing and modernizing of more rural governments. Imperialism has spread across the globe, from the British East India Company to France’s occupation of Northern Africa. After their founding in 1776, the United States of America largely stayed out of this trend until The Spanish-American War of 1898. Following the war, the annexation and colonization of Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines ultimately set a precedent for a foreign policy of U.S. imperialism.
The Roman Republic can be seen as a template for how the United States Government was formed, and still to this day consists of. The First influence that the Romans had on our government was their idea for a republic. They, our country as well, wanted their people to have a vote on who would represent them in government. The U.S. representative type of government was influenced by this. Today we vote for the people representing us in our Senate, House of Representatives, and our President. One of the main influences that the Ancient Romans had on the U.S. Government was the idea of the division of power. Today we have executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. The Ancient Romans had a very similar set-up. In Rome when organizing a government, there were many different styles between monarchies, the Senate that was the aristocracy, and the voice of democracy in the people. These acted as their different branches of government. As the U.S Government has an executive branch which consists of our President and Vice President, the Romans had counsels which acted as executive leaders for a year, and controlled the military (“The Roman Republic”). The Ancient Romans also obtained a Senate, similar to our government. In Rome, it was 300 members of the wealthy and self-serving. Today, there are career senators, and elite men in society. This is the legislative branch of our government that has been derived from the Ancient Romans. Also within the legislative branch of the Romans, they had numerous assemblies like that of the U.S. Government’s House of Representatives, based on where each member lives. Our judicial branch was based off of the Roman’s Praeto...
If there was one thing Rome and America had most in common, it would have been their fundamentals for foreign policy which was attained through the same sort of origins. For example, as Rome gained power, they had established ...
“While stands the Coliseum, Rome shall stand; When falls the Coliseum, Rome shall fall; And when Rome falls - the World.” Lord Byron. This essay will discuss the similarities of military, economics and systems of government between the Roman Empire of the 6th century BCE and the United States of America of the 20th century. History has revealed that all superpowers fall eventually, although much time has passed since the glory days of Rome we see in 2015 the largest superpower in charge, the United States. There are many similarities that can be drawn between the American superpower and the Roman Empire such as the same founding of government and both dominated in military, as well as economic similarities. This leads to the conclusion that because the rise to power between the two powers was so similar, the downfall will be equally parallel.
Today, the United States is the fifth largest country in the world, with over 294 Embassies and Consulates around the world our influence is quite significant. Ancient Rome contained about 20% of the world’s population of the time; it is remembered as the greatest empire in history, with ties all over the eastern hemisphere from Britain, to Egypt, to all the way to China. Ancient Rome as we know contributed significantly to modern society and is not without influence on us here in the United States. Rome’s influences included aspects ranging from their public benefits, to their use of glass, to their use of concrete, to their administration system. But, there are three influences of Ancient Rome that still reverberate through time and still have an incredible impact in our society. The first influence that Rome gave us would be their form of government, specifically their Republic Era that lasted nearly five hundred years. Ancient Rome also gifted us with the idea of benefits for those who can’t provide for themselves. Furthermore, from Ancient Rome we got the idea of providing public services that are funded with tax dollars.
After the American Frontier was officially closed according to the 1890 census, the push for American Imperialism increased to expand American opportunity. The Spanish American War in 1898 also lead to American Imperialism. The defeat of Spain left Guam, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the Philippines to the United States. Most Americans during the turn of the 19th century were Christian Anglo Saxons who believed in Social Darwinism, or the idea of “survival of the fittest”. This lead to many Americans wanting to Americanize the obtained Spanish territories. The United States had also annexed Hawaii in 1898, which made many Americans question American Imperialism (c). Groups such as the Anti Imperialist League, lead the debate on whether Imperialism was proper and legal. American Imperialism during the early 20th century was proper because it helped American Industry and went along with the popular idea of social darwinism, but it was not legitimate because Imperialism went against the Constitution, and disagreed with America’s founding fathers’ views on foreign
Over the span of five-hundred years, the Roman Republic grew to be the most dominant force in the early Western world. As the Republic continued to grow around the year 47 B.C it began to go through some changes with the rise of Julius Caesar and the degeneration of the first triumvirate. Caesar sought to bring Rome to an even greater glory but many in the Senate believed that he had abused his power, viewing his rule more as a dictatorship. The Senate desired that Rome continued to run as a republic. Though Rome continued to be glorified, the rule of Caesar Octavian Augustus finally converted Rome to an Empire after many years of civil war. Examining a few selections from a few ancient authors, insight is provided as to how the republic fell and what the result was because of this.
After the civil war, United States took a turn that led them to solidify as the world power. From the late 1800s, as the US began to collect power through Cuba, Hawaii, and the Philippines, debate arose among historians about American imperialism and its behavior. Historians such as William A. Williams, Arthur Schlesinger, and Stephen Kinzer provides their own vision and how America ought to be through ideas centered around economics, power, and racial superiority.
Rome became a powerful empire engulfing much of Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia and what seemed like this great entity called the Romans were always in the search of more territory and land to conquer and assimilate into their ever growing vast empire. However, this was not always the case, before Rome became one of the greatest empires in all of history, Rome was a republic. They were government consisted of a Senate who much like our country today represented certain classes of the citizens of the Republic. During the growth and rise of the Roman republic conquering neighboring territories and competing for land grabs was not Romans primary objectives. Romans believed in the well being and wealth of Rome, and if that meant the total destruction of a potential adversary, then as history will show that is unfortunately to the detriment of the adversary what happened.
The United States, most regularly regarded as the superpower of the world, gained much of its influence during both the Manifest Destiny and New Imperialist eras. Manifest Destiny, lasting during the 19th century, was based on the idea that the United States was justified and deserved to conquer and annex any territory. This resulted in the acquisition of Oregon and part of Mexico. New Imperialism occurred from late 19th century to early 20th century, where America gained land across the globe in many continents. From varying perspectives, Manifest Destiny and New Imperialism were both very similar, whilst very different. The motives for conquering land during these periods were hugely similar, and the wars fought along the way were both alike and unalike. However, the methods of ruling the territories gained were completely different.
WWII has a ripple effect across the globe causing changes both internationally and domestically. Internationally, The sun finally began to set over the British Empire with the majority of her majesties colonial possessions gaining independence in the years following the war. Britain’s stage left exit from its hegemonic role resulted in the start of a new “Great Game” between two burgeoning superpowers. A new world order began to take shape with the United States and USSR vying to establish their own hegemony.
The Roman Republic began approximately around 509 B.C. when the nobles drove the King and his family out of Rome. This monumental incident helped shape the start to the transformation of the monarchy into a republican governmental system. This is known to have begun by that of the Roman nobles trying to hold their power that they had gained. The Republic was “[a] city-state [which] was the foundation of Greek society in the Hellenic Age; in the Hellenistic Age, Greek cities became subordinate to kingdoms, larder political units ruled by autocratic monarchs” (Perry 105)
Ultimately, the Roman Republic’s downfall lay in its lack of major wars or other crises, which led to a void of honor and leadership. War united all of Rome’s people, and provided the challenge to its leaders to develop honor and leadership by their causes and actions. The lack of war allowed the Roman Republic to stagnate and become self-indulgent. By the end of the Punic Wars, which combined these elements, Rome was sure to fail. Without a common thread uniting its society, the Roman Republic unraveled because it had nothing left holding it together.
In this paper, I will argue that the current system is hegemonial. My explanation to hegemony will then be centered on the sources of the United States as a hegemonial power. Furthermore, I will state the different primary implications associated with the rise of China and what the Roman Empire offers for understanding the United Sta...