The Roman Empire?

[MrFancypants]

Originally Posted by Nordicvs

Aside from conquering Brittania and the Battle of Actium, the imperial navy was not used very much, except for logistical purposes and protecting Rome's trade.

I think Caesar constructed the necessary ships for his expeditions in Britain with help of his legions.

[moab_there_butt]

Originally Posted by Nordicvs

I've always wondered what might have happened if the Roman Empire had not fallen; say, if it managed to subdue the lands (and tribes) north of the Rhine to the Elbe, or perhaps even to the Oder, by 395 AD.

So, it's Empire would have been extended to the Baltic Sea and only vulnerable to barbarian attacks from Asia, to the east.
This would have left, essentially, the Vandals and Goths as the main barbarian force, the only serious threat.
Perhaps the Romans could have been in a better position to defend their Empire on one front? Or was it inevitably fated to collapse due to corruption, poor leadership, and forces from within?

Anyway, my main question is, in this scenario, would the Roman Empire have lasted longer? And if so, by how much longer in your opinion?

What do you think? Discuss.

Cheers...

well... let me see. i think they would had still fallen... you see the romen empire was on a path of domination... if they thwarted there enemys then they may be bold enough to take on the world... enventuly colapsing on its own wait. thats what i think

[Dreadnought[DK]]

the roman empire would never have lasted, even if they managed to conquer western europe. it would collapse on itself and there would not be enough legions to protect all the provinces from external as well as internal threats. the roman society was doomed due to its dependence on slave labour.

[SpiderGoat]

Fallen? Yes. But because of their "dependency on slave labour"?

[Mastershroom]

All empires eventually fall...Egypt, Greece, the Ottoman Empire (yeah I know it came later), the Persians, just to name a few. The internal problems probably didn't help much either, and the division into two empires. There was also something about the prophecy that supposedly chose Romulus over Remus to be the first emperor, involving birds or something like that, that predicted the fall of the empire remarkably close to when it actually happened.

[SpiderGoat]

Originally Posted by SpiderGoat

First off: all empires fall.

And Romulus saw 14 birds (Remus 7), so some concluded that every bird symbolised a century --> 14 centuries. Not that this has anything to do with the subject.

[Mastershroom]

^Yes, and that's close to how long the Roman Empire lasted, hence my previous post. I forgot the details, I hadn't read it since my 7th grade World History class.

[SpiderGoat]

Originally Posted by SpiderGoat

And Romulus saw 14 birds (Remus 7), so some concluded that every bird symbolised a century --> 14 centuries. Not that this has anything to do with the subject.

That should be 12. Dread, visit this thread an answer my question.

[Dreadnought[DK]]

Originally Posted by SpiderGoat

That should be 12. Dread, visit this thread an answer my question.

[SpiderGoat]

Why did Rome fall because of their dependency on slave labour?