How Immigration Contributed to the Fall of the Roman Empire

They say that those who fail to learn from history are destined to repeat it. When I learned several years back about the factors that contributed to the decline and fall of Rome, I was not surprised at the role immigration played. What did-and still does--surprise me is how the immigration issue is never brought up as something that has historical precedents. 

Immigration was not the sole factor in the fall of Rome, but it was definitely one of the factors that contributed to the fall of this once-great empire. And when one looks back at this period of history, it all makes sense. (Common sense is no longer common, unfortunately.)

During the later years of the Roman Empire, particularly in the 4th and 5th centuries AD, the empire faced significant challenges from both external invasions and internal unrest. Here are a couple of the ways immigration played a role in these challenges. Look at the parallels to what's been happening in Europe and the U.S. today. 

Economic Strain 
The influx of immigrants placed strain on the Roman economy, particularly as the empire struggled to provide resources and employment for its growing population. Immigrants often settled in urban areas, leading to overcrowding, unemployment, and social unrest. This economic strain further weakened the empire's ability to defend itself against external threats. (Sound familiar?)

Cultural and Social Change
Immigration also brought about cultural and social changes within the Roman Empire. As immigrants settled in Roman territory, they brought with them their own languages, customs, and beliefs, leading to increased cultural diversity and, in some cases, tensions between different ethnic and religious groups. These divisions weakened the sense of unity and cohesion that had been essential to the stability of the empire.

We constantly hear people extol the virtues of diversity, but how is that working out in real life over in the EU which has embraced diversity to almost a radical degree? According to Douglas Murray: 

But the argument for mass migration on the grounds of 'diversity' as being a good in itself ignores one huge and until recently unspeakable issue. Just as most cultures have good things to say for themselves, all have some bad and disagreeable things about them too. And while the positives can be stressed and exaggerated from the outset, any negatives take years to admit, if they are admitted at all.

It strikes me as strange that our culture has become so polarized that we cannot discuss anything with resorting to name-calling. If one argues against mass immigration, they are labelled a xenophobe.

In the last decades of the Roman Empire, there were all kinds of groups fleeing into Roman territory seeking a better opportunity. Visigoths, Vandals and Huns came because they were fleeing the conflicts in their own lands. According to historians the pressure from these migrations contributed to the weakening and eventual collapse of central authority.  

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Immigration wasn't the only thing that undermined the Roman Empire. There were other causes as well, including some quite familiar to us today like overexpansion, military overspending and government corruption. Nevertheless, immigration played a part.

I'm just sowing seeds here. There are reasons to be concerned about the direction things are going. Those speaking frankly may have useful contributions on this matter and ought not be dismissed out of hand. My gut tells me things will be getting worse before they get better unless honest discussions are allowed to take place in our communities, cities and highest levels of government. I'm less than optimistic.