Answer:
There were multiple factors that led to the decline of the Roman Empire, but two significant problems were political instability and economic troubles.
Political Instability: The political instability was a significant problem that weakened the Roman Empire. After the death of Emperor Marcus Aurelius in 180 AD, the empire's leadership became unstable, leading to a period of political turmoil and instability. The Praetorian Guard, which was supposed to protect the emperor, became a powerful force and began to depose and install emperors at will, which led to a series of weak rulers who were unable to provide effective leadership.
This instability weakened the power of the central government, which made it difficult to maintain law and order in the vast empire. The political instability also led to a lack of confidence in the government and created a situation where the provinces of the empire began to assert their independence.
Economic Troubles: Another problem that contributed to the decline of the Roman Empire was economic troubles. The economy of Rome was based on agriculture, and as the empire expanded, the farmers were drafted into the army, which left their lands uncultivated. This led to a shortage of food and increased prices, which made it difficult for the poor to survive.
The empire also relied heavily on slave labor, which made it difficult for free workers to compete in the labor market. As the empire began to decline, the slaves rebelled, which further weakened the economy.
Additionally, the Roman Empire was involved in expensive military campaigns, which drained the empire's treasury. To pay for these campaigns, the government began to debase the currency, which led to inflation and a loss of confidence in the monetary system.
Overall, these economic troubles weakened the empire's ability to defend itself and provide basic services to its citizens. The decline in economic stability and political instability eventually led to the collapse of the Roman Empire.