Why Did the Roman Empire Fall? After finally collapsing into a three-continent giant, the Roman Empire left behind a legacy that still influences contemporary society. Many different and complex factors contributed to the decline and ultimate destruction of this great empire.
Discover and gain a little more knowledge about some reasons Rome, after centuries of global expansion, fell into chaos and eventually crumbled.
Why Did the Roman Empire Fall?
Once a massive three-continent empire, the Roman Empire eventually fell apart and left behind a legacy that still influences contemporary culture. Many different and complex factors contributed to this great empire’s decline and eventual demise.
Let’s examine the key factors that led to the collapse of the Roman Empire;
1. Attacks By Tribes of Barbarians:
For centuries, Rome had been at odds with Germanic tribes; however, by the 300s, “barbarian” groups such as the Goths had begun to spread outside the boundaries of the Roman Empire.
A Germanic rebellion was put down by the Romans in the latter part of the 4th century, but Rome was successfully sacked by King Alaric of the Visigoths in 410.
The Empire faced continuous threats for the next few decades until the Vandals launched another raid on “the Eternal City” in 455. Emperor Romulus Augustulus was finally overthrown in 476 by a rebellion led by the Germanic leader Odoacer.
2. An Excessive Reliance on Slave Labor and Economic Difficulties:
A deep financial crisis was causing Rome to collapse from the inside out, even as it came under attack from the outside.
The imperial coffers had been greatly depleted by constant wars and excessive spending, and the wealth gap had been spread by harsh taxes and inflation.
Numerous affluent individuals had even fled to the countryside and established their fiefdoms in the hopes of evading the taxman.
A labor shortage also shook the empire at the same time. Rome’s economy relied on using slaves to labor in its fields and as craftspeople, and historically, its military might brought in new conquerors to fill open positions.
But Rome’s supply of slaves and other war booty dried up when the expansion came to an end in the second century.
3. The Eastern Empire’s Ascent:
When Emperor Diocletian split the Roman Empire in two, with the Eastern Empire based in Byzantium, which would later become Constantinople, and the Western Empire headquartered in Milan, the fate of Western Rome was largely decided in the latter part of the third century.
In the short run, the division made the empire easier to rule, but over time, the two parts drifted apart.
The West and East frequently quarreled over resources and military assistance, failing to cooperate effectively to counter external threats.
4. Excessive Military Spending and Expansion:
Rome had difficulty gathering sufficient forces and supplies to repel outside invasions and local uprisings, and by the second century, Emperor Hadrian had to construct his renowned wall in Britain merely to keep the enemy at bay.
The military maintenance of the empire consumed an increasing amount of resources, which hindered technological advancement and caused Rome’s civil infrastructure to deteriorate.
5. Political Unrest and Government Corruption:
The empire was thrown into chaos by civil war, and in the short space of 75 years, more than 20 men assumed the throne, usually following the assassination of their forebears.
The personal bodyguards of the emperor, known as the Praetorian Guard, were capable of carrying out assassinations, appointing new rulers at whim, and even bidding for the position.
The Roman Senate was also a victim of political corruption; its pervasive ineptitude and corruption prevented it from reining in the emperors’ excesses.
As things got worse, civic pride declined and a lot of Romans lost faith in their government.
6. The Decline of Traditional Values and Christianity:
Popes and other church leaders also became more involved in politics during this time, which made governance even more difficult.
Although there’s a chance that the spread of Christianity slightly reduced Roman civic virtue, most academics now contend that military, economic, and administrative factors outweighed its impact.
Final Thoughts
A complex interaction between internal and external circumstances led to the fall of the Roman Empire. This once-powerful empire ultimately collapsed due to a combination of factors including overstretching, economic decline, political instability, foreign pressures, and social and cultural changes.
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