Question

What was the most significant factor that led to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire?

Answer 1

Answer:

The process of decline of the Western Roman Empire began in the mid-4th century BC, especially because of the series of problems that had plagued it since the third century, such as the barbarian invasions, the economic crisis and the military dispute over power.

Explanation:

The Roman Empire of the West had as one of the main causes of its fall the barbarian invasions carried out by the Germanic towns that inhabited the region to the east of the borders of the Empire. Alongside the decadence of the slave economy and military de-structuring, barbarian invasions were pointed out by historians as one of the major processes that led to the end of the greatest empire of antiquity in 476 AD.

From the economic point of view, the empire was in crisis especially after the collapse of the slave system, which had to be replaced by the settlement system, which consisted of the relationship between people with precarious subsistence conditions and large landowners who contracted their services and in return offered protection and lands for work. Many owners who owned slaves began to liberate them and also to establish the settlement regime with them. This process led to a decline in urban centers and commercial activity in cities.

Another phenomenon that gained great proportions amid the crisis of the Empire was the rise of Christianity. The Christians, who had inhabited the dominions of the Empire for a long time, began to grow numerically. This fact led the Emperor Constantine - who later transferred the seat of the Roman Empire to Byzantium - to institute Christianity as the main religion of the Roman Empire, having himself converted. This generated a power struggle that contributed to the downfall of the empire.

Answer 2

There are multiple factors such as disease and invaders from outside and even conflicts within Rome but maybe the invaders were the problem because they ended up being the reason why Rome fell.