r/AskHistorians • u/AutoModerator • 1d ago
FFA Friday Free-for-All | December 27, 2024
Today:
You know the drill: this is the thread for all your history-related outpourings that are not necessarily questions. Minor questions that you feel don't need or merit their own threads are welcome too. Discovered a great new book, documentary, article or blog? Has your Ph.D. application been successful? Have you made an archaeological discovery in your back yard? Did you find an anecdote about the Doge of Venice telling a joke to Michel Foucault? Tell us all about it.
As usual, moderation in this thread will be relatively non-existent -- jokes, anecdotes and light-hearted banter are welcome.
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u/CitizenKnowNothing 1d ago
Topic: Did the Roman Empire stop advancing scientifically and technologically after about 175 AD?
A lot of ink has been spilled about the Fall of the (Western) Roman Empire in the 5th Century AD, but if improvement is the measure of a healthy civilization, I haven't found any "breakthroughs" of the Roman Empire after Ptolemy died around 170 AD. Is it just because I haven't found the right information, or was the Empire already stagnant and ceased to make progress by that time? What are your thoughts?