The Fall of the Western Roman Empire
Many factors contributed to the fall of the Western Roman Empire, but the four major reasons included opinionated politics, economic conditions, life taking diseases, as well as invasions by foreign groups determined to take over Rome. The fact that Rome did not respond to these issues had a colossal impact in the fall of the Western Roman Empire.
Politics were one of the reasons responsible for the fall of the Western Roman Empire. Rome was run by many greedy and cruel emperors that had adopted the throne through assassination or through inheritance (father to son). Lacking a system to replace the emperor, Rome was faced with new emperors unfit to rule. In addition, Praetorian Guards would assassinate emperors …show more content…
Rome tried using unprotected walls and natural borders, but Rome was impossible to protect as well as control. With not enough legionnaires to guard frontier boundaries and with legions weakening, Rome decided to hire Germanic mercenaries which ended up turning against Rome. Legionnaires were so concerned with salaries and control of the throne that they lost focus of their job resulting in Germanic tribes invading Rome. The aqueducts were destroyed by invading Germanic tribes and only small amounts of fresh water were available. The Romans assumed that the Rhine and Danube Rivers would be “uncrossable” but frozen rivers allowed easy access into Rome. With Rome, relying on natural and unprotected boundaries in 410 CE Germanic Chief Alaric and his tribes were able to invade, the massive and impossible to completely protect, Rome.
The many factors responsible for the fall of the Western Roman Empire majorly weakened Rome, leaving Rome helpless. With foreign invaders, economic conditions, opinionated politics, and lastly life taking diseases Rome's decision to not take action ended up with Rome in devastating
Many factors contributed to the fall of the Western Roman Empire, but the four major reasons included opinionated politics, economic conditions, life taking diseases, as well as invasions by foreign groups determined to take over Rome. The fact that Rome did not respond to these issues had a colossal impact in the fall of the Western Roman Empire.
Politics were one of the reasons responsible for the fall of the Western Roman Empire. Rome was run by many greedy and cruel emperors that had adopted the throne through assassination or through inheritance (father to son). Lacking a system to replace the emperor, Rome was faced with new emperors unfit to rule. In addition, Praetorian Guards would assassinate emperors …show more content…
Rome tried using unprotected walls and natural borders, but Rome was impossible to protect as well as control. With not enough legionnaires to guard frontier boundaries and with legions weakening, Rome decided to hire Germanic mercenaries which ended up turning against Rome. Legionnaires were so concerned with salaries and control of the throne that they lost focus of their job resulting in Germanic tribes invading Rome. The aqueducts were destroyed by invading Germanic tribes and only small amounts of fresh water were available. The Romans assumed that the Rhine and Danube Rivers would be “uncrossable” but frozen rivers allowed easy access into Rome. With Rome, relying on natural and unprotected boundaries in 410 CE Germanic Chief Alaric and his tribes were able to invade, the massive and impossible to completely protect, Rome.
The many factors responsible for the fall of the Western Roman Empire majorly weakened Rome, leaving Rome helpless. With foreign invaders, economic conditions, opinionated politics, and lastly life taking diseases Rome's decision to not take action ended up with Rome in devastating