Final answer:
The Western Roman Empire collapsed due to Germanic migrations and invasions, coupled with internal political, economic, and military turmoil. Ultimately, it was Odoacer's deposition of the emperor in 476 CE that marked the fall of the Western Roman Empire.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Western Roman Empire was destroyed through a series of Germanic migrations and invasions that led to the eventual collapse of Roman authority in the West. The defining moment was in 476 CE when Odoacer, a Germanic leader, deposed the last Roman emperor of the West, Romulus Augustulus. However, the decline of the Western Roman Empire was a process that occurred over many years and involved multiple factors, including
- Political instability and fragmentation
- Economic troubles and overreliance on mercenary armies
- Repeated sacking of Rome, notably by the Visigoths and Vandals
- The establishment of Germanic kingdoms within territory previously controlled by Rome
This multifaceted set of circumstances destabilized the West, while the Eastern Roman Empire, known as the Byzantine Empire, survived until 1453.