Crumbling Colossals

The Fall of Empires

J. A. McCreery

AN EMPIRE IS A NEAR MYTHOLOGICAL CONSTRUCT, the centralisation, the power, the romanticism, the conquest – they exert such immense influence on the world, shaping our geo-political relations and defining the very make up of nations – yet they rise and fall in a moment’s notice, why?

By definition, an empire is a ‘political unit’ made up of several territories and peoples, usually created by conquest, and divided between a dominant center and subordinate peripheries. The great empires of history irreparably alternated conquered territories’ culture, beliefs and structure through enforced control, exploitation or reform. These webs of control enveloped hundreds of millions in a brutal Darwanist system.

For some context:

• British Empire; 
  • Ruled a quarter of the world
  • 400 million subjects

• Mongol Empire; 
  • 23 million square kms of unbroken control
  • Largest contiguous land empire

• Roman Empire;
  • Endured over 1000 years
  • Created the largest network of roads in the ancient world

These empires are such forces for change their effects can be felt even today. Britain very well constructed Australia into its modern form whilst also forging the Commonwealth of Nations and developing institutions, such as common law, contract enforcement and banking. The Mongols introduced the first international paper currency and postal system, and developed and spread revolutionary technologies like printing, the cannon, the compass, and the abacus. Romans, aside from their obvious suffusion and romanticism in modern media (i.e. Gladiator, Spartacus, Ben-Hur) have heavily influenced modern day architecture, both in terms of design – domes, pillars arches – and in material, such as tiles, bricks and concrete. 

Such knowledge makes clear the true impact and extent of empires but also draws one to the original question, how can such mighty forces crumble and fall if they hold such overwhelming power?

Academics often point to two interlinked causes: overreach, and the inability to resolve crises.

As empires expand their borders the land gained eventually becomes too expensive to maintain economically and militarily. Essentially the law of diminishing returns applies, in the beginning acquiring new land and thus resources drives economic growth yet after a critical point has been reached these returns on scale become less and less until eventually sustaining control over such vast swathes of land becomes detrimental. Military becomes unable to maintain control, ‘stretched thin’, lacking numbers, strength and resolve to control the empire. Such expanses of land also results in multiple fronts of war, a usually insurmountable disadvantage, especially when pitted against numerous determined enemies. The complexity of great empires also results in major logistical and political issues, creating immense intricate networks of government which eventually collapse in on themselves. Next, inability to resolve crises, which is underpinned by overreach and its downfalls, often catalyzes ‘the fall’, setting into motion the dismantling of power. When rebellion, plague or invasion strikes an empire a cohesive response is imperative for its survival; if power / control is diluted such a response is incredibly hindered. This amplifies the impact of crises, which of course can be in and of themselves destructive, eroding the ability of centralized control to persist.

 A more compelling, and perhaps more relevant cause is a failure of identity and purpose.

Empires are built around a sole preeminent power which defines the culture, religion and practises of those it ensnares and as it encroaches on others, its ability to impose said thoughts on the conquered and repress contrasting ones, defines its success. If you take Russia for example, the split of Ukraine in 1991 was simplistically caused by differing attitudes and values – those in Ukraine felt distinctly ‘non-Russian’ despite the banner being flown over their heads and thus split themselves to pursue a unique national identity. Such disillusionment against empires can also be seen in cases such as the Balkan Wars where four Balkan States of Greece, Serbia, Montenegro and Bulgaria declared war upon the Ottoman Empire and defeated it, regaining sovereignty. On the flip side, empires such as that of Rome were able to sustain centuries of influence by making its provinces relatively equal. Its states were predominantly subject to the same enforcements and taxation, and received military protection, just like the homeland, alongside uniform laws, free and open trade or employment opportunities only available to Romans. Nevertheless, nationalist identities are bound to spring up as people united by race, language, culture or history seek new governance and greater benefit for their people. 

Ultimately, empires fall because all things must come to an end. 

Such a concept should also serve as a reminder for the powerhouses of today, no matter how far you reach, no matter how long you reign, no matter how much you control, the immutable power of time will eventually bring an end to it all.