The silver Denarius, first minted during the 2nd Punic War (218 – 201 BC), soon became Rome’s primary currency unit. A centralized currency also simplified tax collection. The government minted and circulated the gold Aureus and silver Denarius to provide citizens with a reliable medium of exchange. The Romans built their monetary system on precious metals. Like hundreds of powerful societies before and since, Rome’s destruction came when the government resorted to currency debasement. So, how did excessive government spending, currency devaluation, inflation, and a breakdown of trade end up tearing the empire apart? The answer can be found in Rome’s treacherous transition from hard money to easy money. For centuries, Rome led the world in all these categories. Because of this, economic strength in a culture often correlates with spiritual stability, technological innovation, and cultural achievement. Money touches every aspect of human life. While all these factors contributed, Rome’s decline really comes down to one thing: money. How does an empire that controls global trade and 20% of the earth’s population lose its sovereignty? Historians have debated this for centuries, pointing to religious turmoil, destruction of traditional Roman values, Germanic invasions, and political corruption. Roman aqueducts revolutionized the movement of water Roman roads connected trade routes across Europe, Africa, and Asia Roman armies conquered 5 million square kilometers of territory Roman art and literature layed the groundwork for modern Western culture.Īnd yet, Rome fell apart. If ever there was an unbreakable civilization, the Romans held the title. Three hundred years later, the Denarius had been reduced to a worthless scrap of copper alongside a crumbled empire. When Matthew wrote his gospel in 85 AD, one pure silver Denarius covered the daily wages of a skilled Roman craftsman.
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