Question

Why did Rome fall and what was the short term and long term effects of their demise?

Answer 1

The fall of Rome in 476 was the result of more than a hundred years of civil wars and general instability that had already seen the empire divided into two, in 476 the Lombards invaded and sacked the city of Rome, deposing the last emperor and sending his crown to the eastern emperor (the eastern empire would last until 1453).

The short term effects include the establishment of the Lombards in Italy, the most important region of the old Empire, and the rise of many roman-germanic kingdoms. The long term effects include the ruralization of europe, with many people leaving the cities, and the rise of serfdom, a middle term between slavery and freedom.