Answer:
The most straightforward theory for Western Rome's collapse pins the fall on a string of military losses sustained against outside forces. Rome had tangled with Germanic tribes for centuries, but by the 300s “barbarian” groups like the Goths had encroached beyond the Empire's borders.
One reason why it is useful for historians to base certain studies on the analysis of historical periods is because "c. similar events and trend often take place on different places during the same periods," since this can take place due to "cultural diffusion".
: “The British used the profits from the sale of opium to purchase such Chinese luxury goods as porcelain, silk, and tea, which were in great demand. They tried to bribe the Chinese with the gifts.”
