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The end of the Roman Empire is traditionally placed on 4 September 476, as the Western Roman Empire fell to Germanic invaders.
However, this view does not recognize the Eastern Roman Empire, known to modern-day historians as the Byzantine Empire, which maintained Roman legal and cultural traditions. Developing a distinct Greek Christian character, it managed to survive and even thrive for a millennium after the fall of the West, eventually being conquered on 29 May 1453 by the Ottoman Empire.
There are many reasons speculated as to why this was so, but mainly problems associated with internal unrest, resources spread too far and wide and external forces gaining power and territory. More detail here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decline_of_the_Ro man_Empire
However, this view does not recognize the Eastern Roman Empire, known to modern-day historians as the Byzantine Empire, which maintained Roman legal and cultural traditions. Developing a distinct Greek Christian character, it managed to survive and even thrive for a millennium after the fall of the West, eventually being conquered on 29 May 1453 by the Ottoman Empire.
There are many reasons speculated as to why this was so, but mainly problems associated with internal unrest, resources spread too far and wide and external forces gaining power and territory. More detail here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decline_of_the_Ro man_Empire
Did it fall? i beleive it 'transformed' from a militaristic land based empire maintained by force of will, to an eclestiastic empire, Catholisism esp Roman Cathology.
Some main reasons for the decline for the Western empire are...
1. Its constant troubles at the top (in one year there were 4 different Emperors!)
2. If you look at the Western Roman army towards its end, it was greatly made up of 'Barbarian' mercinaries or Auxillaries. Not very trust worthy when fighting their own peoples!
3. Money. The Eastern empire was by far the richer of the two halves so could afford a stronger more disciplined army.
4. Diocletian, when he split the Empire into two (East and West) chose the East for his power base and gave the West to his mate Maximillian, therefore already signifying that the West was not a prized possession that it once was.
5. Since i believe, Trajan (98-117) the borders were not expanded upon, therefore signifying compacancy and since then, the mighty army was on the defensive for the next 300 years in the west.
6. The Eastern empire was almost always at war with great powers, the parthians and Ottomans (except for that ickle reverse against the Visigoths in 378 when 2/3 of the army were slain) whereas the West were dealing with tribal disputes and raids not attempted conquests until the arrival of the Hordes.
Some main reasons for the decline for the Western empire are...
1. Its constant troubles at the top (in one year there were 4 different Emperors!)
2. If you look at the Western Roman army towards its end, it was greatly made up of 'Barbarian' mercinaries or Auxillaries. Not very trust worthy when fighting their own peoples!
3. Money. The Eastern empire was by far the richer of the two halves so could afford a stronger more disciplined army.
4. Diocletian, when he split the Empire into two (East and West) chose the East for his power base and gave the West to his mate Maximillian, therefore already signifying that the West was not a prized possession that it once was.
5. Since i believe, Trajan (98-117) the borders were not expanded upon, therefore signifying compacancy and since then, the mighty army was on the defensive for the next 300 years in the west.
6. The Eastern empire was almost always at war with great powers, the parthians and Ottomans (except for that ickle reverse against the Visigoths in 378 when 2/3 of the army were slain) whereas the West were dealing with tribal disputes and raids not attempted conquests until the arrival of the Hordes.
good question... lots of answers are given for the fall of the western empire, from outsourcing the military to mass lead poisoning from rain gutters... but why exactly did the eastern empire hang on for a full millennium longer? I don't know the answer but I'll keep an eye on the Q thanks anglolang
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