What two factors contributed to the fall of the Roman Empire?

Two critical factors that contributed to the fall of the Roman Empire were:

1. Economic Weakness: Over time, the Roman economy began to suffer from several problems, including the over-reliance on slave labor, which stunted technological advancements. The empire also faced issues like inflation, due to the debasement of currency (reduction in the purity of the coinage), and heavy taxation, which placed enormous strain on the populace. Economic difficulties were exacerbated by military overexpansion and spending, which drained the coffers of the empire and made it difficult to maintain its vast territories and infrastructure.

2. Political Instability and Corruption: The Roman Empire struggled with political turmoil and corruption, particularly in its later centuries. The government became rife with corruption, and the frequent changes in leadership led to instability. Many emperors were overthrown, assassinated, or faced revolts, which weakened the authority of the central government. This constant turmoil at the top levels of power made it nearly impossible to implement and maintain effective long-term policies, and it left the empire vulnerable to external pressures and internal decay.

These factors, combined with external pressures like barbarian invasions, overstretching of the military, and internal conflicts, set the stage for a gradual decline, and eventually the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD, while the Eastern Roman Empire, also known as the Byzantine Empire, lasted until 1453.