Why did the Western Roman Empire Collapse?

By the early 5th century many independent groups were at Rome’s gates simultaneously. The mishandling of the early Gothic invasions led to a multi-faceted military disaster. The approach of multiple invading armies was a catastrophic event that would have been difficult for any empire to handle.

By the 4th century, the Roman Empire's economy was severely damaged by civil strife and runaway inflation. It was never able to solve these economic problems and remained weak in the face of widespread invasions. The decline of Roman material culture began long before the fall of Rome itself.

Some historians believe the decline of Rome stretches all the way back to the Severan dynasty in the 2nd century when the military emperors eroded the seriousness of Roman high office. Rome became an ineffectual and corrupt empire from then onwards.

A change in fundamental in values may have destroyed the Roman Empire. It has been argued both that Rome was too decadent and immoral, and too pious and Christian by different thinkers. Both groups attribute Rome’s fall to a decline in Roman virtues during the Imperial period.