The Roman Empire stretched from Mediterranean Europe to Asia and Northern Africa at the height of its powers. Around in the 3rd Century, Rome had significant influence and power; more than any other empire in the world. However, just like its rise, its fall was gradual and took many years. Many theories have been put forward to explain the fall of the Roman Empire. The most critical one being the sustained attacks by barbarian tribes.
Historians fail to agree on one leading cause of the weakening and eventual fall of the Empire (Bury, 2013). The rise of Christianity, corruption, wars and economic problems all contributed to the decline (Andrews, 2014). However, the most likely reason for the fall in the 5th Century was the continuous invasion by Germanic Barbarian tribes. Over the years, Rome had a strong army that managed to quelled many uprisings. The decline caused by economic troubles and constant wars had weakened the military. The barbarians could now encroach the border, and eventually, the city was sacked (Andrews, 2014). The fall is documented as having happened in 476AD (Andrews, 2014).
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The fall of the most influential empire of the ancient era offers some lessons for today’s society. One of the most notable experiences is that empires don’t fall within a short period. The decline of Rome was gradual, and the leaders had the chance to make amends. The signs were ignored, or the measures that were taken were not sufficient. Another lesson is the role of the military. Rome hired Barbarian mercenaries and included them in their military ranks. Over time, the barbarians learnt the art of advanced warfare and used it against the Romans. Finally, the role of the economy in maintaining power. Economic troubles significantly contributed to the fall. Thus, contemporary powers should avoid the mistakes of the Roman rulers.
References
Andrews, E. (2014). 8 Reasons why Rome fell . History.com . Retrieved on 14 February 2018, from http://www.history.com/news/history-lists/8-reasons-why-rome-fell.
Bury, J. B. (2013). History of the later Roman Empire: From the Death of Theodosius I to the Death of Justinian . New York: Courier Corporation.
