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Hakimi scores twice as PSG sink Lyon to stay unbeaten in Ligue 1
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Hat trick pulls Ovechkin closer to Gretzky's NHL goals record
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Tanaka strikes again as Japan down Colombia
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Baker wins US indoor 60m as Kessler, Hiltz complete double
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Kane admits last-minute decision to make Bayern bench
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Bakers wins US indoor 60m as Kessler, Hiltz complete double
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American Airlines flight lands in Rome after 'security' issue
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Dupont eyeing Six Nations showdown with Ireland after Italy rout
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Slot wary of Premier League dangers despite 'big' Man City win
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Borthwick defiant after uninspired England edge Scotland
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Nations at odds over major UN climate science report
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Pakistan fans look away from India Champions Trophy 'humiliation'
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Global prayers as Vatican says pope still 'critical'
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Pakistan's Rizwan admits Champions Trophy dream 'ended' by India
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France star Dupont eyeing Six Nations showdown with Ireland after Italy destruction
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'We need another title', says Salah after 'special' Man City win
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Relentless Bayern stay eight points clear
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Kohli shuts down 'noise' with landmark century
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Modric stunner maintains Real Madrid title charge
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Salah-inspired Liverpool beat Man City to open up 11-point Premier League lead
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Townsend wants England agony to inspire Scotland for Six Nations finish
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Eleven-try France destroy Italy to set up Six Nations showdown with Ireland
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Every game 'pressure' as Bangladesh face make-or-break clash
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Conservatives win German vote as far-right makes record gains
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Israel ready to resume Gaza war, PM warns after truce delay
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'Captain America' slips but clings to N. America box office lead
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Modric hits rocket as Real Madrid beat Girona
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Eleven-try France hammer Italy 73-24 in Six Nations
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Kohli hits ton as India push Pakistan to brink of Champions Trophy exit
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Zelensky offers to resign in exchange for Ukrainian NATO membership
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US ski star Shiffrin hits 100 to cement legendary status
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Forest felled by Isak as Newcastle bolster top four bid
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Man City's Haaland ruled out for Liverpool clash
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Referee 'corruption' accusations leave Marseille president Longoria facing punishment
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Van Persie returns to Feyenoord as coach
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Athletic Bilbao crush Valladolid to maintain top four pace
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Former soccer star Ozil goes into Turkish politics with ruling party
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Shiffrin questioned return before claiming historic 100th World Cup win
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Angel Yin wins Thailand LPGA tournament by one shot
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Pogacar wins the UAE Tour with mountain break
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Napoli concede Serie A lead to Inter after losing at Como
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India bowl out Pakistan for 241 after Shakeel-Rizwan stand
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Shiffrin takes historic 100th World Cup win with Sestriere slalom
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Tens of thousands vow support for Lebanon's Hezbollah at slain leader's funeral
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Israel says army to stay in evacuated West Bank camps for 'coming year'
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Odermatt underlines super-G power with World Cup win at Crans-Montana
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Kremlin hails Putin-Trump dialogue as promising
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Tens of thousands vow support for Hezbollah at Beirut funeral of slain leader
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Does revival or retirement await James Bond at Amazon?
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Sudan's RSF, allies sign charter for rival government
The Roman Empire and its downfall?
The fall of the Roman Empire has fascinated historians, political analysts, and history enthusiasts for centuries. Once an unparalleled power that stretched across much of Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, Rome eventually succumbed to a complicated web of internal weaknesses and external pressures. But what factors most decisively contributed to its downfall?
Overextension and Resource Strain
One prominent reason for the Empire’s decline lies in its vast territorial expanse. As the Empire expanded, maintaining military and administrative control over far-flung provinces became an immense challenge. Garrisoning remote frontiers and sustaining essential infrastructure, such as roads and aqueducts, placed enormous financial and logistical burdens on the imperial administration. Over time, these obligations led to heightened taxation and social unrest, eroding the Empire’s stability from within.
Political Instability and Weak Leadership
Another fundamental weakness was Rome’s inability to establish a consistent and resilient political structure. Frequent coups, civil wars, and assassinations destabilised the imperial government. Short-lived emperors were often more focused on consolidating power and eliminating rivals than enacting long-term reforms. This lack of continuity in governance engendered bureaucratic inefficiency and thwarted coherent policymaking, leaving Rome ill-prepared to address growing internal and external threats.
Economic Decline and Hyperinflation
Economic disruptions also played a pivotal role. As wars grew costlier, silver coinage was devalued repeatedly, leading to rampant inflation. Confidence in the currency eroded, triggering a cycle of price increases and diminishing trade. Many farmers abandoned their land, amplifying rural depopulation and further undermining agricultural productivity. Trade routes, once the arteries of Roman commerce, became perilous, stifling economic growth and rendering the state increasingly vulnerable.
The Rise of External Threats
Simultaneously, external forces took advantage of Rome’s weakening grip. Germanic tribes and other barbarian groups pressed against the Empire’s borders, sensing the growing fragility of Roman power. Although Rome had once managed to integrate or repel these incursions, mounting economic strain and military overextension hindered an effective response. Over time, repeated invasions culminated in the sacking of Rome by the Visigoths in 410 CE and the eventual deposition of the last Western Roman Emperor in 476 CE.
Social and Cultural Transformation
Lastly, shifting social and cultural dynamics played a role. Traditional Roman values of civic duty and loyalty to the state gradually gave way to localised loyalties and a reliance on mercenary forces. The rise of Christianity, while not the sole cause of the Empire’s decline, reoriented cultural and political power away from older Roman institutions and towards the Church, reducing the emperors’ influence and the old civic order’s authority.
Conclusion No single event or factor can wholly explain the collapse of the Roman Empire. Rather, it was the convergence of overextension, economic instability, political turmoil, and shifting social foundations that led to Rome’s ultimate disintegration. While debates on the precise causes continue, most historians agree that the empire’s downfall underscores the fragile balance between power, governance, and societal cohesion—an enduring lesson for any ambitious political system.
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