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According to the historian Edward Gibbon (author of "The Decline and the Fall of the Roman Empire"), Christianity caused the empire to fall because of the "future looking" ideals. Today, this reason is heavily disputed.

Currently, the most likely theories are that the Roman empire had economic instability and was ruled successively by incompetent leaders which led to the fall of Rome.

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βˆ™ 13y ago
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βˆ™ 13y ago

The Empire fell because of the continued economic problems, coupled with environmental and societal collapse. Incompetent emperors also did not help with these problems.

During the beginning of the Crisis of the Third Century, it was evident that the empire's troops were more loyal to their generals than the empire itself. This led to purges and killings of Roman troops. Finally, when the empire stabilized under the rule of Diocletian. Diocletian split the empire into two in 285 CE, leading to the formation of the Eastern and Western Roman Empires.

Over time, it was necessary for emperors to pay more and more to mercenaries to defend the borders. These payments were made in the increasingly devalued denarii. The denarii (at the time of the fall of the West) was 0.02% silver, when the denarii was supposed to be 100% silver. The denarii and its other coins led to hyperinflation in Rome, which created the economic problems. However, in the East, they had reformed to a different currency that was separate from the Western Denarii, and therefore prevented the East (which was more prosperous, powerful, stronger, and more populous) from suffering hyperinflation.

The empire's society was also becoming more corrupt and the environment of which they lived more inhospitable. During the beginning of the millennium, temperatures dropped, which made it harder for people to grow crops. This led to migration out of the cities and into manors. The manors held much more power and food than the cities, and made people focus inward.

Rome did not fall in a day, and fell because of many many factors. Historians may never know all of these factors, but from careful analysis, some reasons have been proposed and are most likely valid.

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Q: What led to fall of the Roman Empire?
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The western Roman Empire is said to have fallen in 476 CE what happened during this year?

476 is the date of the fall of the western Roman empire.476 is the date of the fall of the western Roman empire.476 is the date of the fall of the western Roman empire.476 is the date of the fall of the western Roman empire.476 is the date of the fall of the western Roman empire.476 is the date of the fall of the western Roman empire.476 is the date of the fall of the western Roman empire.476 is the date of the fall of the western Roman empire.476 is the date of the fall of the western Roman empire.


What did the eastern roman empire eventually come?

The eastern part of the Roman Empire became the surviving part of the Roman Empire. It was not affected by the invasions by the Germanic peoples which led to the fall of the western part of the Roman Empire and continued to exist for nearly 1,000 years. Historians have coined the term Byzantine Empire to indicate this part of the empire after the fall of the western part. The people in question did not know this term and called their empire Roman Empire.


What two general factors led to the fall of the empire?

The two very general factors that led to the fall of the empire are internal pressures and external pressures.The two very general factors that led to the fall of the empire are internal pressures and external pressures.The two very general factors that led to the fall of the empire are internal pressures and external pressures.The two very general factors that led to the fall of the empire are internal pressures and external pressures.The two very general factors that led to the fall of the empire are internal pressures and external pressures.The two very general factors that led to the fall of the empire are internal pressures and external pressures.The two very general factors that led to the fall of the empire are internal pressures and external pressures.The two very general factors that led to the fall of the empire are internal pressures and external pressures.The two very general factors that led to the fall of the empire are internal pressures and external pressures.


What happened after the fall of the roman empire and before the Renaissance?

Between the fall of the Roman empire and the renaissance was a period of time known as the Dark Ages.Between the fall of the Roman empire and the renaissance was a period of time known as the Dark Ages.Between the fall of the Roman empire and the renaissance was a period of time known as the Dark Ages.Between the fall of the Roman empire and the renaissance was a period of time known as the Dark Ages.Between the fall of the Roman empire and the renaissance was a period of time known as the Dark Ages.Between the fall of the Roman empire and the renaissance was a period of time known as the Dark Ages.Between the fall of the Roman empire and the renaissance was a period of time known as the Dark Ages.Between the fall of the Roman empire and the renaissance was a period of time known as the Dark Ages.Between the fall of the Roman empire and the renaissance was a period of time known as the Dark Ages.


When did the Western Roman Empire fall?

The most commonly used date is 476, but other dates are also used. Some historians just say 5th century, or the second half of the 5th century. Clearly it was a long, drawn out affair. The East Roman Empire survived until 1453. The name we use for it is the Byzantine Empire, but that name was never used at the time, and they were nearly always called the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.

Related questions

What is a internal problem that led to the fall of roman empire?

Vote government


What external problems weakened the Roman Empire that led to its fall?

The inexorable move of Eurasian peoples across the Empire.


What was the year of the fall of the roman empire?

476 is the date given for the fall of the western Roman Empire.476 is the date given for the fall of the western Roman empire.476 is the date given for the fall of the western Roman empire.476 is the date given for the fall of the western Roman empire.476 is the date given for the fall of the western Roman empire.476 is the date given for the fall of the western Roman empire.476 is the date given for the fall of the western Roman empire.476 is the date given for the fall of the western Roman empire.476 is the date given for the fall of the western Roman empire.


What roman empire led a resistance against the Turks?

TheOttomanTurks brought the Byzantine Empire to an end. Byzantine Empire is a term historians used for the eastern part of the Roman empire after the fall of the western part of this empire.


What were the causes of disruption of trade led to the fall of the roman empire?

Hostile tribes outside of the boundaries of the empire and pirates on the Mediterranean Sea


The western Roman Empire is said to have fallen in 476 CE what happened during this year?

476 is the date of the fall of the western Roman empire.476 is the date of the fall of the western Roman empire.476 is the date of the fall of the western Roman empire.476 is the date of the fall of the western Roman empire.476 is the date of the fall of the western Roman empire.476 is the date of the fall of the western Roman empire.476 is the date of the fall of the western Roman empire.476 is the date of the fall of the western Roman empire.476 is the date of the fall of the western Roman empire.


Who led the fall of the roman republic?

No one led the fall of the Roman republic. The republic like the "empire" deteriorated over a period of time. It is often said that Sulla was responsible for the fall of the republic but the conditions were already in place when he took power.


What did the eastern roman empire eventually come?

The eastern part of the Roman Empire became the surviving part of the Roman Empire. It was not affected by the invasions by the Germanic peoples which led to the fall of the western part of the Roman Empire and continued to exist for nearly 1,000 years. Historians have coined the term Byzantine Empire to indicate this part of the empire after the fall of the western part. The people in question did not know this term and called their empire Roman Empire.


When did the Rome empire begin to fall?

The process which led to the fall of the western part of the Roman Empire started with the invasion of Gaul by the Vandals, Sueves and Alans in 406. The eastern part of the Roman Empire was not affected by these invasions and continued to exist for 1,000 years.


What caused Rome's empire to weaken in the 400's?

The invasions of the western part of the Roman Empire led to its weakening and sparked the process which led to its fall in during this century. The eastern part of the Roman Empire was not affected by these invasions and continued to eixst for 1,000 years


What two general factors led to the fall of the empire?

The two very general factors that led to the fall of the empire are internal pressures and external pressures.The two very general factors that led to the fall of the empire are internal pressures and external pressures.The two very general factors that led to the fall of the empire are internal pressures and external pressures.The two very general factors that led to the fall of the empire are internal pressures and external pressures.The two very general factors that led to the fall of the empire are internal pressures and external pressures.The two very general factors that led to the fall of the empire are internal pressures and external pressures.The two very general factors that led to the fall of the empire are internal pressures and external pressures.The two very general factors that led to the fall of the empire are internal pressures and external pressures.The two very general factors that led to the fall of the empire are internal pressures and external pressures.


Which continent did the roman empire spread?

As you may know the Roman Empire became very powerful across the world and spread through parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa. They were very powerful but they didn't have strong leaders that how it led to the fall of the Western Roman Empire.