Roland Mayer's book, The Ruins of Rome: A Cultural History, discusses the gradual decline of Rome's monumental architecture from ancient times to the Middle Ages. When the Roman Empire was at its height, the city recovered from disasters through repairs and maintenance. However, the shift to Christianity and the establishment of Constantinople as a second capital led to the exodus of the elite. Many ancient structures became redundant and slowly fell into disrepair. Temples were secularized or repurposed, while amphitheatres suffered a decline as gladiatorial games waned in popularity.
The decline of Rome's built environment was influenced by natural disasters, political shifts, and resource erosion, particularly during the medieval period.
The legal sanction of Christianity and the emperor Constantine's removal of the capital to Constantinople contributed to Rome's material decay.
Many temples in Rome were secularised in 408, with some converted into churches, while others were absorbed into later secular structures.
The decline of Rome's massive sports buildings, such as amphitheatres, resulted from the changing cultural landscape and loss of interest in gladiatorial combat.
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