What Killed the Roman Empire? 2022

Overview

What Killed the Roman Empire? is a 2022 documentary film that explores the historical factors contributing to the decline of the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire maintained dominance over Europe and the Mediterranean for five centuries before it began to weaken and eventually disappear. This production examines the evidence gathered by archaeologists, climate historians, and specialists in ancient pathologies to explain this collapse. The film highlights how a significant drop in temperature and three successive waves of deadly diseases undermined the foundations of the state. Specifically, the narrative details a disease that struck Rome in 167, which devastated the army and presented symptoms described by the Greek physician Galen that are reminiscent of smallpox. Simultaneously, a sudden climatic disorder occurring across Eurasia caused agricultural yields to plummet and triggered westward migration. By synthesizing these findings, the documentary illustrates how environmental and biological pressures converged to weaken the empire. The film has a runtime of one hour and thirty minutes and was released in France on November 19, 2022.