1700 years ago the mismanagement of a migrant crisis toppled Rome

[mainer]

A fascinating and scary look at how Rome fell because of how they responded to a migrant crisis similar to the one Europe now faces.

Traditionally, the Roman attitude toward “barbarians,” though autocratic, had been pretty longsighted. Populations were often sent where the empire needed them the most, with little regard to where they wished to stay; however, there was a strong push toward assimilation that eventually turned foreigners into citizens. Descendants of immigrants would routinely be seen in the high ranks of the military or the administration. The recipe that kept the empire safe from the attacks from other populations was simple: allow them into the empire and make them Roman.

But things eventually changed. The military officials who were in charge of provisions for the Goths—an ancient version of support offered to migrants arriving in Greece or Italy—were corrupt and profited off of what was meant for the refugees. The starving Goths were forced to buy dog meat from the Romans...

Less than two years later, Marcellinus writes “with rage flashing in their eyes, the barbarians pursued our men.” And they took down the empire.

The migrants trying to get to Europe right now are not about to raise up in arms, and Europe is not—thankfully—the Roman empire. But this story shows well that migration has always and will always be a part of our world. There are two ways to deal with refugees: one is to promote dialogue, and inclusion; the other to be unwelcoming and uncaring. The second has led to disaster before—and in one way or another, is sure to do so again.

http://qz.com/677380/1700-years-ago-the-mismanagement-of-a-migrant-crisis-cost-rome-its-empire/

[Warpy]

1. A lot of things cost them their empire

notably bungling in assigning and paying garrisons of "barbarians" and the corruption of the by then hereditary ruling oligarchy. The "barbarian hordes" were initially welcomed into a Rome populated by people sick of heavy taxation funding corruption at the top. Unfortunately, after they'd sacked the palaces, the invading horde then sacked everybody else's homes and businesses and wore their welcome out in record time.

BBC has a wonderful series called "Time Team" doing 3 day exploratory excavations of historical and sometimes rather random sites. What they found was that the barbarians weren't barbaric and the Romans, while superb engineers, weren't all that civilized. A lot of the series is on You Tube and is a fantastic time suck for frustrated archaeologists.

[jamese777]

2. In my humble opinion....

its kind of strange to talk about "migrants" when Rome conquered and incorporated territories and peoples that comprise the modern day nations of Portugal, Spain, Andorra, United Kingdom, France, Monaco, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Italy, San Marino, Vatican City, Austria, Malta, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia, Hungary, Albania, Greece, Macedonia, Romania, Turkey, Bulgaria, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Syria, Iraq, Kuwait, Cyprus, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco.
"All roads lead to Rome."