Fall of the Roman Empire

The Fall of the Roman Empire refers to the gradual decline of the Western Roman Empire, ending around 476 AD. Factors included economic troubles, overextended borders, political corruption, military defeats, and invasions by barbarian tribes like the Visigoths and Vandals. Internal instability and a weakening economy made it hard to defend the empire, while external pressures increased. The empire's decline marked the end of ancient Rome's dominance and the beginning of medieval Europe, though the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire continued for nearly another thousand years.