What Factors Led To The Decline Of The Western Roman Empire

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Many different factors helped to cause the downfall of the Western Roman Empire. Both internal and external factors caused the fall of the Empire. The downfall caused a loss of Roman influence and power in the west. The fall of Rome also caused Germanic customs and languages to replace Roman ones. Cities and roads built by the Romans disappeared and Roman laws were no longer obeyed. Luckily, the Eastern Roman Empire which was known as the Byzantine Empire still preserved some traditions. One of the largest factors that contributed to the fall of the Western Empire was the political side of it. There were hardly any efficient emperors before the fall of Rome. In fifty years, twenty six emperors ruled. This was because many of them were overthrown or assassinated. This disruptive pattern caused instability for the entire empire. The many emperors also caused civil wars between armies and people. This helped to destroy the empire from within. The government also became more oppressive and authoritarian. In effect, the people opposed it more and more. Another important factor was that the divide between the east and the west weakened the west much more then in the east. Politics played an important role in the downfall of Rome. Social factors contributed to the demise of the Western Empire too. Many poor farmers had left their plots of land to seek protection from the wealthy. However, they were essentially slaves and not allowed to leave their new lands. Patriotic values such as discipline and devotion were also forgotten and less stressed. These values had helped to build society. An example of this change was the hiring of mercenaries instead of citizen-soldiers who had volunteered in the past. The upper class was largely corrupt as well. Instead of becoming leaders, the wealthy lived a life of luxury and power. These social factors

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