In 476AD the Western Roman Empire collapsed due to a combination of political, economic and social problems that weakened the empire so much that it could no longer protect itself from barbarian tribesmen attacking the frontiers.

From 200AD political problems continued to weaken the empire.

After the death of Commodus in 193AD the line of succession became unclear and army generals led revolts to claim the title of Emperor. During the same year Septimus Severus, Pescennius Niger, and Clodius Albinus all commanded rebellions to put themselves into command of Rome. Septimus won and was emperor until 211AD. This all led to the subsequent practice of overthrowing the emperor in order to become emperor. These were normally led be army generals who's army, instead of defending the frontiers from barbarian invaders, spent most of their time fighting a

From this many social problems stemmed.

By 400AD barbarians were starting to invade and capture the empire. Armies began to retreat from the outlying provinces; Britain was retreated from in 410. In the same year the Goths captured Rome. By 455AD this proved an important resource when it came to fighting the Vandals who plundered Rome and took 30,000 Romans into slavery.

In 284AD Diocletian divided the empire into two separate states, the eastern and the western. Although this seemed like a good idea at the time, it proved not to be so. When the barbarians attacked western Rome the east did not help protect it.

The Western Roman Empire lasted another 21 years. In 476AD the Germans overthrew the last emperor, Romulas Augustus. Odocaer, their leader claimed himself the King of Italy.

The barbarians were a nomadic people, seemingly content on herding reindeer, horses and goats. They lived upon the mountain slo

Some topics in this essay:
Rome Septimus, Roman Empire, Constantine Christianity, Attitudes Roman, Clodius Albinus, roman empire, western roman empire, Augustus Odocaer, western roman, King Italy, Western Roman, Prudence Morse, roman people, army generals, themselves mercenaries, themselves families, empire barbarians, fall western roman, fall western,