What Led to the Fall of Rome, History’s Mightiest Empire? (Video) The decline and fall of Rome was not a swift cataclysm but rather a gradual unraveling marked by numerous challenges. The symbolic end in 476 AD, when Odoacer deposed the last Western Roman Emperor, merely punctuated a process long in motion. The Empire's fragmentation into East and West, exacerbated by internal strife and external pressures, set the stage for its eventual demise. Economic troubles, including inflation and excessive taxation, strained the Empire's resources and sowed discontent among its populace. The Devaluation of Rome: Roman Inflation and the Demise of the Empire King Alaric: His Famous Sacking of Rome, Secretive Burial, and Lost Treasure The influx of "barbarian" tribes further weakened Rome's grasp on its territories. These tribes, driven by factors like climate change and seeking refuge from marauding Huns, settled within Roman borders, straining the Empire's ability to govern effectively. The once-mighty Roman legions found themselves stretched thin, unable to repel incursions or maintain control over increasingly autonomous regions. Read moreSection: NewsVideosHistoryImportant EventsRead Later