1. The End is near…
As is sometimes the case, good things do come to an end…
This is where the Roman Empire found itself
Timeline:
117 CE the Empire reached it’s peak
161 CE Rome’s neighbours were causing a raucous
284 CE Rome’s Empire was divided in attempt to save costs & regain control of its borders (bad idea)

2. Factors that sealed Rome’s fate…
Political:
Over-centralization of Government
Too much done in Rome, corruption of public officials, and the decline of city governments (outside of Rome)
Economic:
Gap between the rich and poor growing
Small farms disappearing
Unemployment on the rise
Growing independence of larger estates

3. Factors continued… Military:
Experienced a weakening of frontier defences
Military officials had too much power (corruption)

4. Factors part 3… Moral Factors:
Decline in patriotism (love that people feel for their country)
Growing apathy (the feeling of not having much emotion or interest)
Decline in personal freedoms
Increase in corruption
…the people were not happy

5. Factors part 4… Outside factors: Barbarian invasions – overran Rome
Goths, Visigoths, Huns, etc.