Which factor had th greatest impact on the fall of the Roman Empire?

Answer 1

The fickleness of the Legions was one of the "key problems", especially during the first century B.C., "year of the four emperors" (69 A.D) and the disastrous 3rd century A.D. It not only undermined the vaunted Legions, but Rome as well.

Civil wars was an inescapable problem that plagued Rome from the beginning i.e. the supposed mythical dispute between the brothers, Romulus and Remus. This "problem" was not only due to ambiguity of succession in the principate, but the age old Roman tradition of patronage.

According to Phillip Spann, “Marius and Sulla learnt the Arcanum rei publicae, the secret of the Republic . . . that power and honors lay not in law and traditions of the Republic . . . but in a loyal army made up of men whose experience in war and devotion to their commander had been forged in extended provincial command, of men who were eager for farms and retirement, men ready to conquer Rome and kill Romans for their general and their price.” This secret was later used by others such as Julius Caesar, Augustus, and Vespasian.

They military playing field also became more level as Germanic mercenaries adapted legionary fighting techniques and became as efficient and deadly as their Roman counterparts.

In the end, the early principate was an effective form of administration. It survived the likes of Caligula, Nero, and the "Year of the Four Emperors."

However, by the 3rd century with imperial incompetency as the norm and not the exception, Roman generals saw oppurtunities for usurpation, encouraged by their troops no doubt. There were approximately fourteen "barracks" emperors between 235-284 AD. The Germanic invasions and a resurgence of the Parthian empire did not help the situation. It seemed the 1st century BC. was being replayed all over again. This time though, there was to be no Augustus.

Answer 2

here are some adherents to single factors, but more people think Rome fell because of a combination of such factors as Christianity, decadence, lead, monetary, and military problems. Even the rise of Islam is proposed by some who think the Fall of Rome happened at Constantinople.

Here are some of the explanations for the Fall of Rome:

Decay
Financial Problems
The Dole and Barbarians
Economic, Military, Gradual
Christianity
Vandals and Religious Controversy
Division of the Empire
Lead
Hoarding and Deficit

Answer 3

I agree with what GoodGolly said. But the change of culture also played a major part. The Roman Republic conquered the "known world" because of their citizen soldiers. They were farmers, but trained to fight in a very organized manner. They also fought better than mercenaries, having a vested interest in the outcome. This was before the civil wars of Marius, Sulla, and Caesar decimated this important class of propertied farmers. Their farms were bought up by the rich, and turned into "latifundia" based on slave labor. This class change led to an alteration in the Roman army's composition from propertied farmers, to Head Count (Citizen men of no property), and then finally to mercenaries (non-Citizens, barbarians.) The performance of the army changed as well, at the same time as the borders were expanded beyond defense capacity.

Answer 4

The Romans were in the practice of hiring barbarian tribes to guard the long borders of Rome from other barbarians. Because of bad taxing and crooked politicians, Western Rome had to start paying the barbarians with land. More and more barbarians entered Rome (with and without invitation). They caused famine and bitterness. Eventually different barbarian tribes just took over and fought for control. Official end was long after practical end of empire when Romulus Augustus was deposed by Visigoth Odoacer in 476. So that's why they say Rome fell from the inside out! (Finally I can use this information in my head!)

Answer 5

I would say the greatest factor would have been greed. Emporers like Augustus and Vespasian kept finances frugal while still holding gladiator games and other events for the common citizen. They also commanded the respect of the legions so that they did not have to continually buy them off out of the treasury. That left money for important public works projects which were limited to what was necessary. Unfortunately other emporers were not as frugal and often spent money they didn't have leading to higher taxes on the various outer provinces and continual conquests of other lands to bring in more money.

Answer 6

I agree with the other answers.

My answer is that it was a mix of:
1 The growing corruption that got out of hand
2 Despotism
3 The effect of the barbarian cultural transfertilization.
4. And finally but not last the amazingly huge importance of the Christian power that caused a cultural clash all over the Empire.

Answer 7

i would say that it was combination of things, but the biggest factor was the complacency that had set in while the empire was at its greatest. there was no longer a real need to continue bolstering the the military. so over time the military became week and when the goths invaded, the roman army was unable to stop them.

Answer 8

GREED.....the need to continue conquering foreign lands, to continue the growth of the Roman Empire...the need for power, the need to control the world.

Answer 9

Moral corruption from within. When any people becomes morally corrupt they cannot stand very long in history. What made America great was the degree to which we followed the Judeo-Christian ethic. What is destroying America is our dividedness over moral issues. We allow moral corruption and it is killing us.

Answer 10

http://killeenroos.com/1/Romefall.htm
this'll do the trick.
But mostly, lack of proper planning about every aspect of the city and greed for money they didn't have an infinite amount of.