My lesson

Barbarian invasions. The invasion of the Germanic tribes weakened the Roman military.

military

Weak and corrupt leadership. The incompetence and corruption of many Roman emperors undermined its political institutions.

political

Military overstretch: The Roman Empire's vast territories and extensive borders required a large and expensive military, which strained the resources of the state.

military and economic

Inflation: Their currency became worthless and the increase in prices meant that people could not buy what they needed to survive.

economic and social

Decline in agriculture and food production: Soil depletion, deforestation, and the decline of agriculture reduced the productivity of the Roman economy and led to food shortages and famine.

economic and social

Cultural decay and loss of values: The decline of Roman values such as discipline, patriotism, and civic duty contributed to the loss of social cohesion.

social and cultural

Disease and pandemics: Epidemics such as the Antonine Plague and the Plague of Cyprian reduced the population of the Roman Empire.

social and economic

Religious conflicts and persecution: Religious conflicts such as the Arian controversy and the persecution of Christians undermined social harmony and weakened the state.

social, cultural and military

Technological stagnation: The Roman Empire did not experience significant technological advances, which limited its capabilities.

economic and military

Environmental degradation: Deforestation, soil erosion, and other environmental problems contributed to the decline of production.

economic and social

Growing social inequality: The concentration of wealth and power in the hands of the elite contributed to social unrest and weakened the state.

economic, military and social

Overreliance on slave labor: The Roman economy relied heavily on slave labor, which contributed to social unrest and undermined the development of free labor markets.

economic and social