(in a nutshell) what was the reason for the downfall of the roman empire?

Answer 1

This is in very simplistic terms by the way.

The main points for the decline and fallof thr Roman Empire were;

1. bad emperors
2. increasing civilization of the people of the empire (which means weaker soldiers)
3. Roman disunity, endless infighting
4. economic decline
5. plagues
6. mass migration
7. and the settlement of the Visigoths in Moesia

Answer 2

-Excessive Military Spending fighting wars with no possible gain, and an army paid for their services rather than a love of Rome.
-Inferior Technology caused an inability to produce goods for their people. Social services grew while industry declined.
-Inner city decay, growing slums and the rich became richer and the poor became poorer. Many were homeless and lived on the streets.
-Political Corruption choosing a new emperor was a most difficult problem gradually, the Praetorian Guard gained complete authority to choose the new emperor, who rewarded the guard who then became more influential, perpetuating the cycle.
-Decline in Morals and Values and many crimes of violence made the streets of the larger cities unsafe. Emperors like Nero and Caligula became infamous for wasting money on lavish parties where guests ate and drank until they became ill.
-Christianity was blamed by many for making the population pacificist but some argue that Christianity may have provided some morals and values for a declining civilization and therefore may have actually prolonged the imperial era.

Sound familiar?

Answer 3

The fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th Centure AD was caused (in a small nutshell) because of soldier rebellions, fights over succession, corruption and decadence and attacks from Germanic and Visigoth tribes.

Answer 4

They were overwhelmed by nations who fought on horses. These peoples came from lands where horses were plentiful. The Romans had few horses and could not withstand them.
It was not inner corruption . The emperors who are often named as culprits (Nero and Caligula and Domitian ) were actually amongst the first emperors. The empire lasted and prospered for centuries after these emperors were dead.
Incidentally , one theory as to why these nomadic peoples attacked Europe is that the Chinese had successfully defended their country against them and they were forced to look elsewhere for land and plunder. This proves Chinese superiority to the Romans :) Unfortunately the Chinese too finally fell to nomadic tribes riding horses - the Mongols who founded the Yuan dynasty and later the Manchu who founded the Qing dynasty.
Now the Roman Empire is back in the form of the European Union. You should all be happy at this.

Answer 5

They ran out of enemies and became lazy. Then they were over-run by smaller colonies with greater ambitions.

Countries go through stages - like planets in the solar system. It is inevitable that countries will die out - like the Greeks, the Soviet Empire, the Chinese Empire (when they were at their peak) and the Saxons. The people who run these countries run out of fresh ideas and fresh blood, and therefore they run out of steam to fight.

In a nutshell: "Everything that has a beginning has an end" (this was quoted in the Matrix Trilogy).

Answer 6

1. Political corruption hampered effective governance.
2. Increasing military resources of outside (rival) empires.

Answer 7

It was a dictatorship. People tend to not like cruel, whip cracking rulers. If you get larger by violently taking over territories, eventually you're only in control of a bunch of territories that hate you. When you have enought territories that hate you, they have only to work together to take you down.

Answer 8

the same as will be the downfall of the british empire,lack of moral decency,anything goes(as long as it does'nt directly affect me).shallow ;humans with no idea of RIGHT and WRONG.

Answer 9

hi dudeorama, the empire through its leaders, smugness and the roman leaders were very suspicious of each others power, they did not see the uprising coming in through their own in-fighting, it was also a bit like the american revolution 'no taxation without representation'...............

Answer 10

Decadence and aggravation from the likes of Attila the Hun.