What was it like to live through the Fall of the Roman Empire? 

Pretty rough, I'd wager

I read an account of a Roman lord in the countryside. He feared the Goths coming and that they would kill him and his family. Instead, a Goth came knocking on his door and asked to buy his farm. The Roman gladly agreed. He then left and joined a monastery. Not all Goths were blood thirsty savages. Many wanted the comforts afford from the Empire.

Patrick Wyman's Fall of Rome podcast spends many many many hours detailing this. TL;DR - Depends on where you were living. Britain or Northern Gaul? Pretty much a Mad Max level of social disintegration within your lifetime. Southern Gaul or Italy? A slow-boil decline you'd have barely noticed, until Belisarius shows up and everything falls off a cliff.

"Oh, city of Rome, enjoy your existence, as you shall fall ruled by a man named Romulus..." *-Last words of shepherd Remus*

*Fun fact:* There's an amazing comic about the Fall of the Western Empire called "Amiculus", in which the byzantines, after re-conquering Rome during the reign of Justinian, try to find out the fate of Romulus Augustulus while the last days of the boy as emperor are shown through flashbacks. Loved the way Orestes was portrayed here as a maniac obsessed with maintaining the Empire no matter what

We are doing it right now. It feels like this.

Boethius's book, the Consolation of Philosophy, was incredibly influential in the Middle Ages. In England alone, it was translated into the vernacular by King Alfred the Great, Geoffrey Chaucer and Queen Elizabeth I.

I really wish that Rome hadn't fallen, not because it was such a great empire or that the times after were so harsh, but rather because people haven't stopped comparing it to their own times for the past 1,500 years

There's no garum in this damn house!

Your little jokes for the captions for the pictures crack me up. Again, another fun and interesting topic and a top notch video! Thanks!

Interesting how Britain disintegrated. An economy completely tied up with export to Rome, and with the legions vital to hold things together economically and militarily, if I understand correctly. Collapse of Pax Romanus left no warrior class to defend against the chaps coming over in longboats etc. So interesting. Thank you 😁

I was half way through Hello Fresh bit before I realized it wasn't a service offered during the Roman collapse by Saint Whatisname.

Best way to describe the Fall of the Roman Empire is "It depends." If you're in the Eastern Empire, you'd probably be well off and life continues with minimal interruptions. In the Western Empire, it depends on location and circumstance. But in most areas, it was a transitional period from a Roman elite rule to a Germanic turned Roman rule.

There's a very good book by Robin Fleming, 'Britain after Rome', and the first few chapters cover the 5thC. Her conclusion, based on archeology - mainly of burials - is that there was no formal invasion (there are no battlefields dating from that time, and precious few weapons in graves); that eastern England was considerably depopulated, starting from the last 4th C; that the towns were deserted; and that, based on the nature of the burials, a sparse, culturally-mixed population of very poor people lived there during that century. By the time of the 6thC, regional differences are emerging (brooches, for example, which leave traces in graves), the range and quality of grave goods has improved, and there are the first indications of local elites. All in all, in eastern England first, then in the rest of the former Roman provinces of Britannia, the slow fall of the western empire was a cataclysm. it destroyed society, which was eventually remade in a very different way over the next century and a half.

Kinda getting that feeling living in modern day USA. Love your videos man. Reminds me a lot of Felton WW2 videos with the level of quality.

Do you think Gordon Ramsey is related to Gordonius Ramsius? That would be a wild coincidence that both were/are famous chefs!!! 🤣

thank you for making this one... and to be honest for all the other videos you have done as well. it is widely taught that darkness descended on the day that the city of Rome fell. but like all empire falls, the daily life of the average joesephus and johanna would go on much as before until, as you say, they started to notice the absence of some things that would have formerly been readily available. and then, being human, they would shrug their shoulders and make do with what they had to hand.

I promise I will support you in Patreon as soon as I get some money. Greetings from Colombia, this channel has been the best.

The quote by Apollinaris really sticks in my head. To the common Roman citizen on the frontier the barbarian invasions must’ve felt like their world was coming to an end.

Hearing the sacking or destruction of people just makes my heart ache. What a terrible sight and psychological impact that all had to have been. Your videos are really good. Please make more. And make more on the economics, valuable trade goods, coins, precious metals, and the elites. Please make more, thank you for all your hard work

Great video. I'll be watching this one several times since I really want to retain some of it. You've had a string of videos recently with great subjects. You are on the top of your game.

There is a pretty decent book on this. “Inheritance of Rome: Illuminating the Dark ages” Basically things got worse, but people managed. Remnants of Rome lived on in local traditions, titles and and customs.

I really like the life of Severinus by Eugippius (circa 510). It has some pithy pieces, like "So long as the Roman dominion lasted, soldiers were maintained in many towns at the public expense to guard the border. When this custom ceased, the squadrons of soldiers and the border were blotted out together."

I’m on a boat on my way to work. Thank you for this, much needed

The seamless transition to the commercial endorsement is a bit disorienting as though I’ve been lifted from Ancient Rome into modern day and then back via an errant time machine. The momentary discombobulation makes it difficult to skip through the ad placement. Nicely done.

Thank you for making these videos. Honestly love you keep it up thanks for the entertainment and detailed insight. Your Unmatched my guy.

Love it- keep up the great work, Garrett!

it's always a good day when toldinstone uploads. love what you do man, don't stop.

The Consolation of Philosophy is an unbelievably brilliant book. The language in it is so advanced that I had to hear it read by people who understood its context (free on Librivox) to get my head around what it was conveying, but it’s absolutely under-appreciated and under-read.

A new toldinstone video? Ave Professor, we who are about to watch, salute you!

I’m trying to wrap my head around the scale of Roman power and authority during these times to be able to grasp what it really felt when Rome was sacked. The Roman Empire may have been huge but I’m thinking the farthest provinces from Rome surely would’ve had separatist sentiments and given how historically, these provinces were conquered states that only came into Roman control. If anything, the fall would’ve probably just been horrific the closer you are to Rome if not only within Rome.

Thanks for yet again another upload!!

That ad transition was SMOOTH

I've dedicated a substantial part of my life to gaining a nuanced and precise understanding of the fall of Rome. Honestly, instead of arriving at a definitive answer, I've uncovered certain insights that I believe are essential for truly grasping what transpired. Think of these insights as keys that unlock a deeper understanding. 1) Rome didn't truly collapse. While the Roman elite, the emperor, and the idea of identifying oneself as "Roman" may have faded, remnants of ancient Roman culture persist to this day. Look no further than the capitals of Europe, North and South America, adorned with majestic Greco-Roman columns and white sculptures. Above all, consider our alphabet; it remains identical to that of the Roman Empire. In essence, when we mention "Western society," we are essentially referring to the legacy of the Romans but in a transformed context. 2) It's more accurate to view it as 'barbarians versus barbarians' rather than 'Romans versus barbarians' when analyzing the empire's decline. In the later stages of the Roman Empire, Romans often dressed, fought, and consisted of individuals we might classify as 'barbarians.' Indeed, distinguishing between the two groups is quite challenging. We often fail to make this distinction because art, media, movies, and our imagination tend to depict half-naked men rampaging as barbarians while portraying Romans as both civilized yet decadent. To some extent, we still adhere to the rhetoric and "racist" imagery of a world dominated by a "white" empire besieged by "inferior" races seeking dominance. This imagery can, in turn, justify certain actions in the name of civilization and averting a second "fall." 3) The fall of the empire is frequently perceived as the total obliteration of a culture. However, the truth, eloquently conveyed in the video, is that diverse people with distinct cultures united to overthrow an antiquated and tyrannical authority. I've read numerous chronicles of people in Italy opening their cities to the barbarians and expressing gratitude for liberating them from burdensome and unjust taxation. These two cultures accomplished something extraordinary, reshaping the essence of European culture and Western civilization in Western Europe. For the first time, Europeans truly became Europeans, and the Middle Ages splendidly exemplified this explosion of melting pot creativity, art, culture, religion, and much more. (If you're well-versed in history, you know that the medieval era wasn't a 'dark age' but a flourishing period during which people invented many of the concepts and innovations we still use today). 💀☠💀☠☠

A most splendid episode, thank you for making and sharing. 👍

It was kind of like living through today's collapse, just without electricity, TV, or internet.

Covered my man Boethius, automatic like from me! Great recap of the fall and the various transitions from a "ground floor" perspective.

I read the consolation of philosophy and in some ways it sounds very modern even though nobody writes in that exact style. He didn't sound worried either, I think, because he had a voice in the court in Cassiodoris. He knew when to keep his mouth shut and lived to be 93.

Garret, just a point of information, The graphic used to illustrate the 'British monk' of a century after the fall of Britannia is wearing the habit of a Franciscan friar, an Order founded in the 13th century.

must say you have one of the best history channels on the interweb.. good stuff dude ..

I love this channel! 👍

I love these videos. Great job

I like this channel, keep it up. Just subbed.

I love this topic. I find the late Roman empire to be incredibly fascinating, especially the shift in culture to the medieval era, amazing video!

2:05 Ah yes, the famous Gordonius Ramsius hahahah

Love the captions.

Exactly the video I was hoping for this is perfect!

I always wanted to know exactly this. Awesome content

Amazing how seamlessly you segue into the ad!

My favourite time period . Looking forward to more Late Antiquity videos!

Amazing stuff

i love watching your videos, i love getting high and watching your videos, and i love falling asleep to your videos. thank you.

At least they had a photo of the cookery of Gordonius Ramsius

Thank you as always.

Germanus in dire need of a red bull. It made me smirk, nice touch

Good seagueway. Thanks for the video.

Great video!

one of your best videos!

Watching this excellent video it occurred to me that it would generally suck to live in that time period.

My great great uncle, Gazius, scored a VCR and KitchenAid blender.

great video!

"Gordonius Ramsius" My guy almost got me, nice job

Great Video. Look forward to seeing them every week. Would you consider posting on Rumble as well?

these vidoes about what it was like to live in rome and the time travelers guide and the story telling ones like the night life one are incredible more please :D

Best transition yet!

Beautiful video. Would be awesome to see the transition, the adaptation of the Romans to the barbarian new rule per region. 👌

Pretty much like living in America now

Dr. Ryan, You mentioned an upcoming video about Roman mosaics. Is that still in the works or did I miss it? I'm really looking forward to it. Also, would an episode on Epicurus and his followers be possible? Your videos are always a springboard for further reading. Thank you.

This may be the smoothest work in of a paid promotion I've ever seen on RU-vid 🎉

Brand new to the channel. Please keep up your "Strait Take" on the ancient topic stuf. I'm commenting at 5:45 and sooooo greatful you went with cooking advertising, and not Curiosity Brainwash Dream

Its weird thing to ask but how ancient people saw metal oxidizing or any other chemicals reaction

Good commentary

Top notch stuff. I canceled my cable subscription recently because channels like this exist

Ask an American what it’s like to live through the fall of the American Empire today.

Where can I find the sources of your quotes? Please could you detail them in your video somewhere in future. This is priceless information.

Western civilization will likely find out first hand again

Best episode in a while.

Probably very similar to how it feels to live in majority of Europe or UK now.

I’m starting to believe that these paintings we witness are not the scene of a particular moment, but scenes of moments that all come together to express what happened during those times. The paintings were a movie all in one shot.

The last emperor in the West should be Julius Nepos. After he fled Rome (or Ravenna), he ruled from Dalmatia. Odovacar, who sent the standards back to Constantinopolis in 476, acknowledged Nepos as the Western emperor during the late 470s. He was assassinated, possibly by minions of Glycerius (whom he deposed), in 480. It seems like a raw deal to me that he doesn't get called the last emperor of the West. Theodoric the Great eventually nearly reassembled the Western empire, by marriage and war, but died of old age before it was accomplished. The real end of Rome occurred during the Gothic War of the 540s. Italy was devastated and the old institutions destroyed, and the great Roman families wiped out during that war. The fifth century is my favorite part of Roman history, and I dearly wish that Sidonius Apollinaris had written a history.

Your transition to Hello Fresh is worthy of an Academy Award. Well done!

Was hoping for a Sidonius reference. Was not disappointed. I recall that he also mentioned 476 as the end of central Roman rule in the provinces.

Been a subscriber for months and just now realized your name isn’t some exotic European name rather “told in stone” without spaces

Modern: The year 476 AD marked the end of the greatest empire of the ancient world when Romulus Augustulus was deposed, the world turned dark for half a millenium and returned to barbaric times... People at the time: "did you know that the young usurper just got replaced 🤓??" "I don't care about nerdy politics smartass talk go clean your room"

We are all about to find out

Excellent!!

I even enjoy your commercial announcements.

The smoothest seg into an ad.

Pestilence, collapse of established social orders, persecution by religious bigots, endless wars… no, I can’t picture it either.

We are about To go through part 2

I literally just thought abt this question?!

Anybody else catch the Gordonius Ramsius kitchen picture? I didn’t realize he got his start in ancient Rome

The migration period is one of the most underrated periods in history

"Heavy metal bassist..." had me 🤣

That segue to the hello fresh Ad 😂😂😂

Timely video. I’m hearing the fall of Rome being referenced more and more

Love the video and great information. But your delivery sounds more robotic than siri

Very nice 👍

We’re about to find out.

We're about to find out