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Mexico president welcomes being left off Trump's new tariffs list
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Tonali eager to lead Newcastle back into Champions League
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Lesotho hardest hit as new US tariffs rattle Africa
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Stellantis pausing some Canada, Mexico production over Trump auto tariffs
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Rising odds asteroid that briefly threatened Earth will hit Moon
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Italy reels from Brignone broken leg with Winter Olympics looming
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Ancelotti’s tax trial wraps up in Spain with prosecutors seeking jail
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Civilians act to bring aid to Myanmar earthquake victims
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US trade gap narrows in February ahead of bulk of Trump tariffs
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Stocks, dollar and oil sink as gold hits high on Trump tariffs
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Countries eye trade talks as Trump tariff blitz roils markets
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Arsenal defender Gabriel out for rest of the season
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Trump says US to emerge 'stronger' as markets tumble over tariffs
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Wiegman says Belgium games can aid England's women's Euros title defence
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Prosecutors demand jail term for Ancelotti for tax fraud
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Syria accuses Israel of deadly destabilisation campaign
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Skiing World Cup champion Brignone suffers broken leg
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Iconic Paris hotel Lutetia taken over by Mandarin Oriental
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Nepal capital chokes as wildfires rage
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Liverpool's Slot happy to let Premier League title bid take its course
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Italy's skiing champion Brignone air-lifted to hospital after crash
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US trade partners eye talks after Trump tariff blitz
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Defending champion I Am Maximus heads final field for Grand National
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Rubio says US committed to NATO - but tells allies to spend more
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Dollar, stocks sink as gold hits high on Trump tariffs
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India eyes opportunity despite Trump tariffs hit
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UK show reveals tawdry tale of Shakespeare folio theft
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Top Russian official in Washington for talks on improving ties
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Germany slams Trump tariffs, US tech titans in crosshairs
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Trump tariff blitz sparks retaliation threats, economic fears
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Search for Malaysia's long missing MH370 suspended
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Hungary announces ICC withdrawal as Israel's Netanyahu visits
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Trump's tariffs sting Asian giants, including US allies
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India says 'examining the implications' of US tariffs
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Evenepoel set to make injury return at Tour de Romandie
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USA sole bidder for 2031 Women's World Cup, UK set to host in 2035 - Infantino
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McLaren's Norris says it's 'our turn' for success
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Lessons and liquids: buried alive in Myanmar's earthquake
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Trump tariffs spark fears for Asian jobs, exporting sectors
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Stocks and dollar sink, havens rally as Trump tariffs fan trade war
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Runners fly to North Korea for first post-Covid Pyongyang Marathon
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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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