How did the internal political strife make protecting the Roman Empire difficult?

Answer 1

Internal political strife in the Roman Empire made protecting the empire difficult in several ways:

1. Division of military resources: Political strife often led to the emergence of rival factions and power struggles within the empire. This resulted in the division of military resources, as different factions sought to control and influence the military for their own political gain. The splintering of military forces weakened the ability to protect the empire effectively, as troops were often engaged in conflicts against fellow Romans rather than external threats.

2. Decline in military discipline: Political strife weakened the central authority and resulted in weakened military discipline. Loyalties were divided among various factions, and soldiers often aligned with their respective political leaders rather than the Roman state. This led to a decline in discipline, morale, and overall effectiveness of the military in defending the empire from external threats.

3. Distraction from external threats: Internal political strife diverted the attention and resources of Roman leaders away from external threats to the empire. Instead of focusing on defending the borders and maintaining control over conquered territories, politicians and military leaders were preoccupied with their own political ambitions and conflicts. This allowed external enemies, such as invading barbarian tribes and rival empires, to exploit the weakness and lack of coordination within the Roman Empire.

4. Weakening of imperial authority: Political strife weakened the authority and legitimacy of the central imperial government. Rival claimants to the throne, civil wars, and assassinations eroded the power and stability of the emperors. This resulted in a loss of confidence in the imperial leadership among both the military and the populace. Without a strong central authority, it became increasingly difficult to command and coordinate the defenses of the vast Roman Empire.

Overall, internal political strife within the Roman Empire hindered the effective protection of the empire by dividing military resources, eroding military discipline, distracting from external threats, and weakening imperial authority.