How America Could Fall Like Rome

The Jan. 6 Capitol riots were a uniquely tumultuous moment in American democracy. But they weren't so unusual in the course of world events. It remains to be seen if Trump's insurrection marked a peak of violence and political instability—or just the beginning.

VICE News speaks with Mike Duncan, the author and award-winner podcaster behind The History of Rome and Revolutions, about parallels between the United States' recent chaos and other historic societal upheavals. He thinks the worst might be yet to come.



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[michelangelomissoni]

In Italy we like to say, “Rome did not fall in a day”

[parau]

The german philosopher Hegel once said: The only thing we learn from history is that we learn nothing from it.

[SevenFootPelican]

When I think about American decline, I think about about the vast economic inequality, moral decline, drop in fertility rates, drop in marriage rates, single family household skyrocketing, expensive education and a generation of students swimming in student debt, expensive and inaccessible healthcare, crumbling infrastructure, mass addiction, mass incarceration, drop in life expectancy, illiberal political parties, government corruption, corporate consolidation and anti-competitive market environment, tax loopholes, spiritual decay, political polarization, cultural mediocrity and cultural decline, rising suicide rates in young people, wage stagnation, unaffordable housing, poor health and obesity, decline of socialization and more time spent in front of screens.... the list goes on and on and on. Understanding these things is part and parcel for understanding American decline.

[intreoo]

Our response to the pandemic is enough to show that this country is literally at risk of crumbling apart at any given emergency. Something *NEEDS* to change.

[houngrysdigest]

We are already in a corporate owned autocracy. Corporations own both parties.

[JJMcCullough]

I remember during the George W. Bush years, people said America would fall like Rome because just like Rome, America was this over-extended imperial power that couldn't stop starting wars. And during the Clinton years people said America was like Rome because everyone was too distracted with wealth and frivolity. And now people say America is like Rome because there's too many problems with domestic political institutions. I feel like this is the metaphor people keep updating to describe whatever the status quo happens to be. It's a question no one ever wants to give a hard "no" to, because basically any society looks like some version of Rome from some angle.

[matthewrobinson]

"A house divided against It's self cannot stand"

[subnormalbark]

Claiming to be an American patriot and raise a confederate flag at the capitol is wild

[nabeelahmedkhanofficial]

We have a saying for that here in Pakistan; "No matter how tall a tree grows, if its roots are not entrenched deep enough, its destined to fall".

[davidallen]

Rome took decades to “fall” it was not a single event

[marianparker]

U.S inflation hit 7% in December, fastest pace since 1982 . Consumer prices in Germany rose by 3.1% in 2021 . France shows a 12 -months inflation rate of 3.4% the highest since September 2008.

[hifijohn]

Im 62 and its scary how much this country has fallen just in my lifetime.

[clumsygallium]

History never repeat but it often rhymes.

[flemming]

Makes me think of a quote by Oscar Wilde.

"America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without civilization in between."

[franklsuarez]

There are too many people that will not say "I'm wrong."

[freedomfighters]

B4 rome officially fell it had a migrant crisis. US is checking all the boxes and we may see new ones.

[ayubtube]

Rome had so many civil wars and outside invasions, as well as having too much spending.

[lamindarboe]

It's not "could" its how American is falling like Romans did.

[Sebastbean]

A country built on greed will fall on greed

[David-nyzt]

Multiculturalism and diversity in on nation is what causes collapse in ancient Rome and Egypt.
How you gonna control and unite different people who want different things, act differently, and have different cultures and traditions