How did internal political strife make protecting the Roman empire difficult?
(1 point)
• Roman armies were caught up in conflicts between generals.
O Roman citizens were too angry about political corruption to fight.
Roman officials were more focused on elections than on the borders.
• Roman generals enlisted foreign mercenaries to help them win power.
• Roman armies were caught up in conflicts between generals.
The internal political strife in the Roman empire made it difficult to protect the empire for several reasons:
1. Roman armies were caught up in conflicts between generals: Generals, driven by personal ambition and desire for power, often engaged in power struggles and civil wars against each other. This resulted in the Roman armies being divided and occupied with internal conflicts instead of focusing on defending the borders and territories from external threats.
2. Roman officials were more focused on elections than on the borders: Political officials in Rome were often preoccupied with gaining political power and securing their positions through elections rather than prioritizing the defense of the empire. This political infighting and focus on personal gain took away attention and resources from ensuring the security and protection of the Roman frontiers.
3. Roman generals enlisted foreign mercenaries to help them win power: In their quest for power, Roman generals often resorted to hiring foreign mercenaries to strengthen their armies and gain an advantage over their rivals. While this might have been strategically beneficial in the short term, it created a dependency on foreign forces and undermined the loyalty and cohesion of the Roman army, making it more difficult to protect the empire in the long run.
Overall, these internal political conflicts and power struggles weakened the unity and focus of the Roman empire, diverting resources and attention away from defending its borders and territories, and ultimately making it more vulnerable to external threats.
To understand how internal political strife made protecting the Roman Empire difficult, we need to look at the options provided.
One possible answer is that Roman armies were caught up in conflicts between generals. This was a significant issue during the decline of the Roman Empire. As various Roman generals sought power and influence, they often clashed with each other, leading to internal conflicts within the Roman army. These internal struggles diverted the attention and resources of the military away from protecting the empire's borders and maintaining stability.
Another option is that Roman citizens were too angry about political corruption to fight. Corruption was prevalent within the Roman political system, and citizens became disillusioned and frustrated with the lack of integrity within the government. This widespread discontentment and anger towards the state led to internal divisions and unrest, making it challenging to secure the empire's borders.
The statement that Roman officials were more focused on elections than on the borders also contributes to the difficulty of protecting the empire. In a climate where politicians were primarily concerned with gaining power and maintaining political positions, the military and defensive capabilities of the empire were often neglected. This lack of attention and priority given to external threats weakened the empire's defenses and left it vulnerable to external attacks.
Lastly, Roman generals enlisting foreign mercenaries to help them win power played a role in undermining the empire's security. As ambitious generals sought to achieve personal gains, they often employed foreign mercenaries, who were not loyal to Rome, to bolster their forces. This further complicated the already fragile internal political situation and weakened the ability of the empire to defend itself effectively.
In conclusion, internal political strife made protecting the Roman Empire difficult through conflicts between generals, citizen anger and disillusionment, a focus on elections rather than border security, and the enlistment of foreign mercenaries by Roman generals. These factors all contributed to the overall weakening of the empire's defenses and its vulnerability to external threats.