A Professor is Blaming the Collapse of the Roman Empire on Homosexuality

The headline in the newspaper this morning reads, "Outrage as top Italian history professor blames fall of Rome on rise of homosexuality." Apparently, there's a prominent professor, Roberto De Mattei, who is attempting to blame homosexuals living in the city of Carthage for the destruction of the Roman Empire. So, let's talk about the Roman Empire for a few moments.



The story of the Roman Republic and Empire covers at least a thousand years from about 753 BC to about 426 AD. (The Greek-speaking half of the empire, based at Constantinople, continues on after the fall of Rome as the eastern Byzantine Empire.)

Approaching the end of Rome's run, around 375 AD, we see the Huns continuing to move west from central Asia. Some think that the local weather conditions have deteriorated for the Hun lifestyle so the Huns decide to move west seeking better opportunities. The Huns push other frightened barbarian tribes -- tribes in the path of the Huns -- even further west.

Eventually, the barbarian tribes end up with the Romans ahead of them and the Huns at their backs. The barbarians manage to push their way into the Roman territories in greater and greater numbers and the western half of the Roman Empire is no more.

The word "barbarian" comes from the fact that the typical barbarian man sports a beard. The Latin word for beard is "barba." Respectable Roman men of the Empire don't wear beards. Hence, the label barbarian is applied to signify a "nobody" from outside the Empire.

Perhaps a beard is what makes the barbarians seem less effeminate to Professor De Mattei. I do not know. But, in the unlikely event De Mattei is correct, a little facial hair should surely get me through those Pearly Gates, as compared to those degenerate Roman citizens in Carthage who are clean shaven.

Seriously, if you really want to know the truth about the Roman Empire there are many books on the subject. I first approached the Roman Empire through its art. This book has been one of my favorites for many years.

A Handbook of Roman Art: A comprehensive survey of all the arts of the Roman world.

1983 Phaidon Press Limited
Martin Henig, Editor
ISBN (cloth) 0-8014-1539-x
ISBN (paper) 0-8014-9242-4
Library of Congress Catalog Number 82-071591

Read more about Professor Roberto De Mattei and his bizarre and ridiculous theories at this link.