The Fall of the Roman Empire

The Roman Empire, once the mightiest on Earth, faced its final collapse in 476

CE. For centuries, Rome stood strong, but economic strain, corrupt leadership,

and endless wars eroded its foundation. Powerful generals fought over the throne as invasions

by Germanic tribes grew relentless. Plagues and famine weakened the population, and the government

drained its coffers. In its last days, Emperor Romulus Augustulus, only a boy,

sat on a throne with little power. The warrior Odoacer, leading barbarian forces,

swept into Rome, deposed the young emperor, and declared himself ruler of Italy.

The Western Roman Empire was finished. But its legacy—laws, roads, and culture—would