Were there Doomsday Preppers during the Fall of Rome?

Constantinople was the most successful bugout plan in human history.

Roman didn't "fall" so much as slide very slowly into oblivion, and the generation that witnessed the "end" of Rome had no memory of a Rome before the "fall."

Rich people, living in the countryside, in proto-castles, with paid guards and tenant farmers, making deals with kings. Did these "preppers" become Medieval nobility?

As always, one should understand life expectancy as an average, not a limit. With high rates of child mortality (that ran up into the 20th century), an average age of 25 does not mean that a 30 year old was the wise old sage. Once past the age of five, your chances of living to what we call old age increase. For example, Augustus Caesar was 75 when he died. Tacitus was 76. Gordian I was 81. Even hundreds of years before, Plato was in his mid-70s. Old age was not uncommon, though on average less so.

The last Roman to be carried in a sedan chair may have been their bishop, who used his "sedia gestatoria" on ceremonial occasions. That was a silk armchair supported by two poles carried on the shoulders of twelve men. Four men walked outside carrying a canopy over his head, and another two walked beside the incumbent carrying ostrich feather fans: these were abolished by Pius X. The sedia gestatoria was replaced by the Popemobile in 1978.

So, I'm still hoping to hear you to cover "how family names from ancient Rome morphed into modern Italian names and when that occurred ". One would think that a family name would be handed down from generation to generation and not change much. thanks, jeff

Were there preppers in the ancient world? Short answer, yes. Everyone was a prepper in those days, because at least small scale disasters were routine. It is really only in the last century or so (depending in part on where you live) that small scale disasters have become a rarity. Which has enabled people who aren't prepared, to continue living despite their lack of preparedness. Another huge factor is that the majority of people until fairly recently were farmers, and almost all farmers in those days built / fixed / grew pretty much everything they needed. As such they were career preppers. To a large extent it is specialization that has allowed people to not be career preppers. And of course the widespread specialization is dependent on capitalism.

What, if anything, was said about the future in Roman texts? Another brilliant video, I never tire of this topic

Thought it said doomsday Peppers for a minute I was very confused yet intrigued

Thank you for answering my question. I’m glad you had fun with my question and your answer was very rewarding.

Another banger from GR!

Keep up the great work, Garrett 👍

Before the fall, definitely. There are entire vaults that patricians secreted away full of riches and weapons that were never used.

I have a couple of follow-up questions about travel. How did people - of different status - travel between towns and areas? How did, for instance, affluent people travel to Baiae with - I presume - quite a retinue? And were (trusted) slaves sent on errands to other towns, and how did that work? And I presume that ordinary legionaries marched along the famous Roman roads, but there was cavalry as well, and did the cavalry reach the destination in advance? (Stupid question, perhaps, but I have absolutely no experience of the army and troop movements in war and during relative non-war.) And also, I wonder if the horses were shod and how that worked on paved roads.

American author Mark Twain was once famously given some wheat taken from the tomb of a pharaoh. He planted it and it grew. With that in mind do we know which variety of wheat was grown in ancient Egypt, Greece or Rome?

If the world ends, I want a prepper villa.

Wonderful as always.

Fascinating observations - thank you.

After a city or town was sacked/raided how long did it take to recover? And how many people died, not from the sacking/raiding itself, but from the aftermath caused by such events?

Good questions and fun answers.