Roman Empire with modern borders
A map of the Roman Empire at its peak, with the modern borders of the countries it once controlled. All countries controlled at one point are included. Territories controlled by th
In 476 AD, a significant moment in history unfolded as Romulus Augustulus, the last emperor of the Western Roman Empire, was deposed by Odoacer, a leader of Germanic mercenaries. This event is traditionally marked as the end of antiquity and the beginning of the Middle Ages. However, the decline of the Western Roman Empire was not the result of a single event but rather a culmination of various factors over time. The third-century crisis played a crucial role in weakening the empire. Internal chaos and civil wars, coupled with the pressures from external tribes, strained the empire's resources. The Roman Empire's vast size made it difficult to manage, leading to higher taxes and economic strain.
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