Why Did Eastern Roman Empire Decline And Collapse?

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As the Eastern Roman Empire prospered, transitioning into the Byzantine Empire, its susceptible counterpart crumbled. Over the course of a century, the once unified imperial rule around the Western Mediterranean fragmented into a mix of Barbarian kingdoms. In 476 C.E., the west’s final emperor, Romulus Augustulus, was ousted by the Ostrogoth and Italy was now under the reign of its first Gothic king, Odoacer.

Why did the Eastern Roman Empire decline and collapse? Some historians argue It was due to the adoption of Christianity, but is proven incorrect because after all, the transitioned byzantine empire was able to survive until the rise of the ottomans a near millennium later. Firstly, the Barbarian invasions ushered the Roman Empire into …show more content…

Barbaric tribes like the Visigoths joined the army, this reduced control the roman generals had over the army as a whole. Other Germanic tribes were displaced closer to Rome; this allowed for larger amounts of roman and barbarian interactions, speeding up the events which were to come. Gallienus, a roman emperor, being defeated in battle, entrusted his son and Gaul to Potsamus, however due to the invasions, Postamus killed the son and proclaimed himself emperor. This showed people that Postamus, being a gaul himself, betrayed his master and took control of the things that were not meant to be his. Later, Emperor Valens (a Roman emperor at the time) dies at Adrianople, successor Thodsius permits Goth to inhabit lands along south of Danube.These barbarians later played a role in the slow destruction of the Roman Empire. “The emperors, anxious for their personal safety and the public peace, were reduced to the base expedient of corrupting the discipline which rendered them alike formidable to their sovereign and to the enemy …show more content…

only 1% of legions did. As well, in 212CE> Emperor Caracalla grated citizenship to all free people under his rule. As well, in 212 CE Emperor Caracalla granted citizenship to all free people under his rule, consequently, instant citizenship decreased motivation for military service and created a large need for outside troops. For the barbarians, this was the perfect opportunity to enter the empire. After Adrianople, Visigoths were recruited as FOederati, causing a decline in the roman army’s traditional discipline. In fact

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