The Roman Empire during the reign of the Antonin dynasty

The Roman Empire, which existed for 16 centuries, saw many rulers: insane, tyrants, fair, cruel. However, the most significant period in the formation and development of the country is the time of the rule of the so-called Antonin dynasty, which went down in history as the "golden age of the Roman Empire". The very name of the dynasty comes from the name of the emperor - Antoninus Pius, who ruled the country from 86 to 161 AD.

According to the tradition of inheritance established in Rome, the emperor ruling the state had to adopt his successor. After the death of his stepfather, the adoptive son became a full-fledged ruler of the country. So, in 98 AD. The emperor of Rome was the son of noble Roman colonists, commander Mark Trajan, famous for his justice and strict observance of the laws. Among the main merits of Trajan is the care of the poor and the poor, victory in the Dacian wars, conquest of the Danube, etc. The life of ordinary people under Trajan became more measured and calm, the Roman Empire ceased to depend on the supply of Egyptian bread to the country and could already independently support its people.

Another notable figure in the period of the reign of the Antonin dynasty was the emperor philosopher Marcus Aurelius (161-180 gg.), Fond of writing works on the theme of human reason and equality of people. It is well known that Marcus Aurelius treated his fellow citizens not as citizens, but as free people in all respects.

The period of the reign of the emperor-philanthropist and man was overshadowed by the raids of the Germanic tribes, or as the barbarians called them in Rome. By the way, the Romans called all the nations that do not speak Latin or Greek, and are at a lower stage of development. The Gauls and Germans inhabiting the territories of Central and Northern Europe also belonged to a number of civilizations lagging behind their level of development from Rome. The war with the feuding tribes dragged on for several years and ended only with the permission to live the Germans in the Roman Danube territories.

The last ruler of the heyday of the Roman Empire was Commodus Lucius Aurelius, famous for the persecution of well-to-do senators, who confiscated the property acquired by dishonest means. Adherents and assistants of Commodus were simple soldiers and praetorians, who received a decent reward for their service. The emperor was famous for his wastefulness, and his main passion - participation in circus games as a gladiator, had a negative effect on the state of the state treasury. Service in the German, Dacian and British armies was paid much lower than the military service in the capital. The discontent of the people increased even more when the emperor proclaimed himself the son of the god Jupiter and the Roman Hercules and demanded a divine relationship. The Emperor Commodus was killed by conspirators from among the subjects in 192. Together with his death the golden age in the development of the country ended, the treasury was exhausted, and the Roman Empire fell into decay. And although there were at least two hundred years left before the disintegration of the state, this event could not but influence the approaching of the split of the country into its western and eastern parts. The Western Roman Empire lasted until 476, the Eastern Empire collapsed ten centuries later in 1453 after the Turkish invasion.

Today, reliable reasons for the dissolution of the Roman Empire are not fully established. On the one hand, a huge country, conquering all new territories, could not exist forever. And on the other hand, the world is arranged in such a way that states appear and disappear, but this does not affect the history of mankind . Today it can be argued that the breakup of the Roman Empire meant, most likely, not the cessation of the existence of a single state, but the cessation of the existence of the most ancient civilization.