The Roman Empire did not fall overnight. In fact, it is historically incorrect to say that the Roman Empire fell in 476 AD, when the eastern half of the empire would be alive and well for one thousand years after 476 AD. There were various factors that would lead to the end of the western half of the Roman Empire. There are so many that there is no one real force or factor that can be pinpointed as the cause of the fall of the empire. Scholars have presented an extraordinary amount of theories, and corollaries to them, to the educated community as to explain the demise of the largest empire to date. Theories are primarily based on fact; however, historians must use an inductive method of assumption to make their theories work. The most commonly excepted theories are: invading northern barbarians, new Christian values, lead poisoning, plagues, failure to advance technologicall
y due to use of slavery, inability to achieve a workable political system.
Some Historians have suggested that the use of lead pipes and cups created reduced mental capabilities. Other historians think that plagues devastated the Roman population. The use of slavery in the Roman Empire could have reduced the roman advancement in technology because work was based on manpower, not the power of simple machines. When other civilizations could produce the same amount of product with less manpower, Rome was left in the dust. Technology would eventually create such a gap that Rome would not have enough slaves to match it. The inability of Rome to create a means of succession and a workable political system can also be tacked onto the list of reasons for its demise. Emperors were put on the throne by armies. The emperor was in power as long as he kept the army happy and the army did not lose to another army.
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