The Roman Empire Lasted For About 500 Years, And This Is What Caused It To Crumble Into Ruins

beatrice prève - stock.adobe.com - illustrative purposes only
beatrice prève - stock.adobe.com - illustrative purposes only

Imagine an advanced civilization filled with architectural wonders and military power that once spanned vast territories across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.

That was the renowned Roman empire, which lasted for about 500 years. So, what caused this mighty empire to crumble into ruins?

The Roman empire began in 27 B.C.E. when Augustus Caesar declared himself as the first Roman emperor.

The official date of the Roman empire’s end is generally considered to be 476 C.E. However, the empire did not succumb to a sudden collapse. It had been slowly declining over the course of several centuries.

The reasons behind the fall are numerous and complex. Due to internal issues like political corruption and economic troubles, as well as external pressures from barbarian invasions, the empire’s resources were drained.

Additionally, the rise of Christianity and other social changes challenged traditional Roman values and ideals.

The most obvious factor that contributed to the civilization’s downfall was the continuous invasions from barbarian groups.

For centuries, Rome had been dealing with Germanic tribes, but by the 300s, the Goths had managed to infiltrate the empire. In 410 A.D., the Visigoth King Alaric successfully sacked the city of Rome.

Then, in 455, the city was raided by the Vandals. Finally, in 476, the Germanic chieftain Odoacer deposed Emperor Romulus Augustulus, who became the last Roman emperor.

beatrice prève – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only

The deposition marked major blows to Roman authority, which is why many people cite 476 as the year the Roman empire fell.

While Rome was being attacked by outside forces, the city was also suffering from a financial crisis. Too much money had been spent on the military, and the economy was in shambles.

Oppressive taxation and inflation divided the upper and lower classes even further. In addition, Rome relied too much on slave labor.

Rome’s expansion to England in 117 C.E. brought enslaved people to the empire. They worked in the fields and as craftsmen.

But when the empire stopped expanding by 180 C.E., the economy began to falter as it ran out of free labor.

Political instability only made matters worse. There were frequent changes in leadership following Emperor Commodus’ assassination in 192 C.E.

In the second and third centuries, Rome saw more than 20 emperors across 75 years as powerful figures vied for the throne.

During the late third century, the Roman Emperor Diocletian divided the vast empire into two halves to make it easier to govern.

The Western Roman Empire was ruled from Milan, while the Eastern Roman Empire was ruled from Byzantium. Over time, they drifted apart and failed to work together.

The Eastern Empire adopted Greek as its official language and continued to thrive, while the Western Empire spiraled deeper into ruin.

In the fourth and fifth centuries, Christianity spread through Rome. Some historians have argued that the rise of a new faith helped push the empire over the edge.

The Edict of Milan legalized the religion in 313, eroding traditional Roman values. It caused the Romans to move away from their belief in the emperor as a divine being and their enthusiasm for warfare. As a result, their military was weakened.

Popes and church leaders became more involved in politics, which complicated the government even further.

The Western Empire finally fell in the fifth century due to attacks from the Goths and the Huns. The Eastern Empire persisted until the 15th century. Eventually, it collapsed in a similar manner to its western counterpart.

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Emily  Chan is a writer who covers lifestyle and news content. She graduated from Michigan State University with a ... More about Emily Chan

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