Roman Empire Decline

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Although the actual cause for the fall of the Roman Empire cannot be determined, there are many supporting reasons for its decline. The fall of the Roman Empire can be attributed to a decline in morals, overexpansion, invasions by barbarian tribes, and overall corruption. First of all , Rome had experienced a severe decline in morals. There was an extreme increase in crime, which rapidly increased over the empire’s standing years. Immoral and promiscuous behavior including adultery also became a problem . It was not only an issue in the middle or upper class, but also in the lower class and the slaves. Their festivals showcased sacrifice, vulgar songs, lewd acts, and sexual promiscuity. Also, in the coliseums they had explicit shows to amuse …show more content…

At its height, the empire stretched from the Atlantic Ocean all the way to the Euphrates River in the Middle East, but its grandeur may have also been its downfall. Its vastness made them unable to properly communicate with all of their holdings. The militant leaders could not effectively transmit messages quickly enough whether it was by land or train. Due to its size, this made them unable to marshal enough troops to protect from rebellions and attackers. Romans were said to have been “born ready armed”, but they still were not strong enough to defend from outside attackers. Recruiting troops became even more difficult as some christians refused to fight. Also, it was no longer seen as such a high honor due to its constant loss.The Huns invasions further shook the empire, and Rome eventually collapsed under the weight of its bloated …show more content…

A system to choose the new emperor was never established. The choice was an open debate between the old emperor, the senate, the emperor's private army, and the whole army. Over time, the emperor’s private army gained more power in the choice and eventually had the authority to choose. They used this to their advantage and perpetrated the system. With all the power rulers had, it went to their heads. They were immoral, unprincipled, and debauched; they had absolute power over life and death. The last truly effective ruler before the collapse of the western empire was Valentinian I. He had no interest in the nobility of Roman, but he felt for the poor and understood religious

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