Question

"The decline of Rome was the

natural and inevitable effect
of immoderate greatness.
Prosperity ripened the
principle of decay; the causes
of destruction multiplied with
the extent of conquest; and,
as soon as time or accident
had removed the artificial
supports, the stupendous
fabric yielded to the pressure of
its own weight. The story of its
ruin is simple and obvious; and
instead of inquiring why the
Roman Empire was destroyed,
we should rather be surprised
that it had subsisted so long."




summarize it

Answer 1

The decline and fall of the Roman Empire were due to a combination of its unsustainable extent, economic pressures, internal political strife, and external threats, leading to the loss of the Western Empire by the end of the 5th century CE.

Step-by-step explanation:

The passage suggests that the decline of Rome was a natural outcome of its vast and unsustainable growth. The wealth generated by its conquests brought about conditions leading to its downfall, such as overextension, internal corruption, and external pressures.

The fragmentation of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century CE concludes a story of a decline marked by numerous contributing factors, including continuous conflict, economic strain, political instability, territorial losses, and the ultimate shift of power to Constantinople.

Rome was facing internal and external challenges, including power struggles between would-be emperors, the bidding of the throne by the Praetorian Guard, and the need to contain the Persian Sassanid threat.

The shift of the capital to Constantinople and the subsequent loss of tax revenue from the Western territories further weakened the Empire.

The Western Roman Empire's fall was complex, involving transitions such as the spread of Christianity and various 'barbarian' invasions, while the Eastern Roman Empire continued until the fall of Constantinople in 1453.