| Despite the theories of generations of historians and | | | | the empire- games and sports became an obsessive |
| laymen, the fact remains most empires end and usually | | | | need for most Roman citizens, which in turn diverted |
| abruptly without their citizens even knowing. This | | | | its citizens from knowing about rising troubles inside the |
| probably was the case with the Roman empire, as | | | | empire. |
| with the Maya, British, and various dynasties that ruled | | | | 4. Technology |
| much of ancient Asia. | | | | Although Rome had some of the most gifted |
| The Roman Empire was at its greatest point in the | | | | architects, builders and had advanced military |
| year 200 AD, ruling most of Europe, parts of Africa | | | | technology. Others outside of Roman influence |
| and the Middle East. Roads linked from Rome to the | | | | emulated it and made it better, particularly the wild, |
| furthest points in the empire, as did many of the | | | | war-like tribes on the borders of the empire. Once |
| surviving relics of the old empire, many still in use today. | | | | these tribes developed better weapons, Rome was |
| Experts do generally agree that their were five main | | | | doomed. |
| reasons the empire declined, and eventually fell. | | | | 5. Religion |
| 1. Hidden Conspirators | | | | Although the Empire adopted Christianity in the third |
| The Roman Empire had several individuals who | | | | century, it divided the empire and people simply lost |
| conspired to fuel its collapse. These conspirators acted | | | | their belief in the empire Most Europeans and Africans |
| independently, some because of greed, others | | | | maintained their pagan beliefs under the guise of |
| because of personal ambition. Whilst they worked to | | | | Christianity, and simply lost faith on the leadership of |
| destroy the empire, they publicly claimed they | | | | Rome. |
| supported it. Many were bankers, members of the | | | | 6. Jealousy |
| ruling elite, wealthy merchants, and even ambitious | | | | The success and wealth of the empire motivated |
| military leaders. | | | | more primitive and war-like tribes to fight Rome, and |
| 2. Increased Taxation | | | | plan to loot it. The empire was threatened by plain |
| The Empire continued to struggle to pay for the food | | | | jealousy, as the eventual tribes that plunged the empire |
| needed to satisfy its vast population, games which | | | | into darkness, grew stronger. And after defeating and |
| were more and more bloodthirsty, as the empire | | | | then cooperating with the empire, marched into Rome, |
| neared its end, and the armies needed to defend the | | | | starting centuries of looting. the empires riches. |
| empires borders. Rome suffered from financial crisis's | | | | Many experts today look at the fall of this empire, and |
| that created the need to raise taxes, and led to | | | | compare it to events we are seeing today. Empires |
| dissatisfaction within the empire. | | | | fall quickly, only because we do not notice it until the |
| 3. Personal Pleasure | | | | end. One interesting fact about the Roman Empire is |
| Romans placed a very high emphasis on personal | | | | that most people only realized it had fallen, when their |
| pleasure, to such a degree that towards the end of | | | | pay did not arrive. |