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Historians have always debated the exact cause for Rome's fall, but there is a general agreement that one of the leading factors in it's collapse was that it simply became too large to control from a central point. The empire split in half because the language and culture in the east and west were drastically different, and that weakened the poorer western part of the empire greatly. In addition to this, some historians think that members of Rome's upper class (particularly the emperors) may have ingested large amounts of lead in their drinking water. Pipes in the Roman Empire were constructed with lead, which would sometimes erode away into the water that people drank. This may have led to the emperors becoming mentally unstable (a prime example of their mental instability is the fact that one Roman emperor married a horse, and yes, this really did happen, this is not vandalism or a joke). A few historians also think that malaria may have played a role in the destruction of the Roman empire. Mosquitos carrying malaria lived around the rivers that cut paths through the city until a relatively short time ago, and may have helped to weaken the city. The historians who believe this point to documents that describe sickness and disease in the city not long before it's fall. I hope this helps you to better understand the fall of the Roman Empire.

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17y ago
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9y ago

The western part of the Roman Empire fell under the weight of the invasions by the Germanic peoples. The Romans were unable to respond to these invasions effectively because of lack of political cohesion and infighting. Civil wars enabled the invaders to ravage Gaul for nearly three years and then move on to Hispania (Spain and Portugal) and then to north-western Africa. The emperor Honorius mishandled his relationship with Alaric, the king of the Visigoths. The Visigoths had been allowed to settle in the eastern part of the empire as allies. Alaric sacked Rome and his successor settled in south-western France. The Visigoths then took over Hispania. Some attempts to deal with the invaders were made, but by then their position and that of the Visigoths was too strong and infighting was persistent. In the end the western part of the Roman Empire came to be controlled by Germanic commanders in chief of the Roman army who installed puppet emperors and ruled for their own benefit. All of the lands of this part of the Roman Empire were eventually taken over.

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12y ago

Ineffective leaders make weak governments. When Rome had leaders who were more interested in personal glory and ease and tried to govern by paying off their opponents, the empire crumbled.

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Q: How did weak government help lead to the fall of Rome?
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Did rome fall because of lead poisoning?

Lead poisoning was part of the reason for the fall of Rome, but there were many other factors also, as is the case in any downfall.


How did citizen indifference and loss of patriotism lead to the fall of the roman empire?

People were being less loyal to Rome. Soldiers from Rome began to fight agenst Rome.


What are the many reasons historains give for the fall of the roman empire?

It seems that every historian has his/her own theory as to why the Roman empire fell. You can get reasons such as a weakened army, lack of leadership, economic factors and even lead poisoning for the fall and they would all be correct. Most agree that there was no one factor that caused the fall of Rome, but a combination of external and internal pressures that caused the fall.It seems that every historian has his/her own theory as to why the Roman empire fell. You can get reasons such as a weakened army, lack of leadership, economic factors and even lead poisoning for the fall and they would all be correct. Most agree that there was no one factor that caused the fall of Rome, but a combination of external and internal pressures that caused the fall.It seems that every historian has his/her own theory as to why the Roman empire fell. You can get reasons such as a weakened army, lack of leadership, economic factors and even lead poisoning for the fall and they would all be correct. Most agree that there was no one factor that caused the fall of Rome, but a combination of external and internal pressures that caused the fall.It seems that every historian has his/her own theory as to why the Roman empire fell. You can get reasons such as a weakened army, lack of leadership, economic factors and even lead poisoning for the fall and they would all be correct. Most agree that there was no one factor that caused the fall of Rome, but a combination of external and internal pressures that caused the fall.It seems that every historian has his/her own theory as to why the Roman empire fell. You can get reasons such as a weakened army, lack of leadership, economic factors and even lead poisoning for the fall and they would all be correct. Most agree that there was no one factor that caused the fall of Rome, but a combination of external and internal pressures that caused the fall.It seems that every historian has his/her own theory as to why the Roman empire fell. You can get reasons such as a weakened army, lack of leadership, economic factors and even lead poisoning for the fall and they would all be correct. Most agree that there was no one factor that caused the fall of Rome, but a combination of external and internal pressures that caused the fall.It seems that every historian has his/her own theory as to why the Roman empire fell. You can get reasons such as a weakened army, lack of leadership, economic factors and even lead poisoning for the fall and they would all be correct. Most agree that there was no one factor that caused the fall of Rome, but a combination of external and internal pressures that caused the fall.It seems that every historian has his/her own theory as to why the Roman empire fell. You can get reasons such as a weakened army, lack of leadership, economic factors and even lead poisoning for the fall and they would all be correct. Most agree that there was no one factor that caused the fall of Rome, but a combination of external and internal pressures that caused the fall.It seems that every historian has his/her own theory as to why the Roman empire fell. You can get reasons such as a weakened army, lack of leadership, economic factors and even lead poisoning for the fall and they would all be correct. Most agree that there was no one factor that caused the fall of Rome, but a combination of external and internal pressures that caused the fall.


What is the final word to all roads lead to?

All roads lead to ROME.


Who were the rulers in the time that the fall of the roman empire occurred?

Romulus Augustulus was nominally the emperor of the Western Roman Empire when it fell in 476 AD. He was only a boy at the time, and not even important enough to kill, so he was merely deposed. It is ironic that he was named after Romulus the legendary founder of Rome, and Augustus the first emperor of Rome. Although his predecessor, a man named Julius Nepos, ruled a government-in-exile until his death four years later, the removal of Romulus Augustulus from the throne is generally regarded as the event which marked the fall of the Roman Empire in Western Europe.He was disposed by the Barbarian King Odoacer, which demanded land in the centers of Italy, and when Emperor Augustulus refused, Odoacer invaded the empire.

Related questions

Did rome fall because of lead poisoning?

Lead poisoning was part of the reason for the fall of Rome, but there were many other factors also, as is the case in any downfall.


How did taxation lead to the fall of Rome?

Women invented taxes. You do the math.


What title was given to the two leaders elected to share power and lead the government in the roman republic?

The two leaders elected to lead both the government and the military in ancient Rome were the two consuls.The two leaders elected to lead both the government and the military in ancient Rome were the two consuls.The two leaders elected to lead both the government and the military in ancient Rome were the two consuls.The two leaders elected to lead both the government and the military in ancient Rome were the two consuls.The two leaders elected to lead both the government and the military in ancient Rome were the two consuls.The two leaders elected to lead both the government and the military in ancient Rome were the two consuls.The two leaders elected to lead both the government and the military in ancient Rome were the two consuls.The two leaders elected to lead both the government and the military in ancient Rome were the two consuls.The two leaders elected to lead both the government and the military in ancient Rome were the two consuls.


How did citizen indifference and loss of patriotism lead to the fall of the roman empire?

People were being less loyal to Rome. Soldiers from Rome began to fight agenst Rome.


Did the assassination of Caesar have anything to do with the fall of Rome?

The assassination of Caesar did not lead to the fall of Rome. Ancient Rome continued to exist for more than 500 years after his death. His assassination precipitated events which led to the fall of the Roman Republic and its emplacement by 503 years of rule by emperors.


How did environmental problems cause the fall of rome?

They were polluting themselves to death. They used lead everywhere, which gave them lead poisoning which ultimately causes death.


How did inferior technology lead to the fall of rome?

they failed to invent machines and it led to not able to provide growing population.


How did the fall of Rome and invasions from other peoples lead to feudal Europe?

The fall of the western part of the Roman Empire did not directly lead to feudalism. It emerged some 350 years after the fall of this part of this empire. He was a result of the continuous warfare which characterised the Carolingian Empire (800-843).


Why did the Romans empire decline and then fall?

There were a number of reasons or causes as to why the Roman empire went into decline and fell. They ranged from the economy to the weakened military that couldn't defend the borders, the faulty leadership in government and even to lead poisoning. The best anyone can say is that it was a combination of circumstances and events that brought about the fall of Rome.


Why did the roman empire decline and the fall?

There were a number of reasons or causes as to why the Roman empire went into decline and fell. They ranged from the economy to the weakened military that couldn't defend the borders, the faulty leadership in government and even to lead poisoning. The best anyone can say is that it was a combination of circumstances and events that brought about the fall of Rome.


If all roads lead to Rome how do you leave?

If all roads lead to Rome, all roads lead away from Rome -- take one.


All of what are said to lead to rome?

all roads are said to lead to rome