The fall of the Roman Empire?

Bryan Ward-Perkins' The Fall of Rome and the End of Civilization (2005) makes the more traditional and nuanced argument that the empire's demise was brought about through a vicious cycle of political instability, foreign invasion, and reduced tax revenue. Essentially, invasions caused long-term damage to the provincial tax base, which lessened the Empire's medium to long-term ability to pay and equip the legions, with predictable results. Likewise, constant invasions encouraged provincial rebellion as self-help, further depleting Imperial resources. Contrary to the trend among some historians of the "there was no fall" school, who view the fall of Rome as not necessarily a "bad thing" for the people involved, Ward-Perkins argues that in many parts of the former Empire the archaeological record indicates that the collapse was truly a disaster.

Peter Heather - The Fall of the Roman Empire, also 2005. Seems to contain many of the same arguments as in the Ward-Perkins book mentioned in the previous answer. This book pays a lot of attention to the economic argument - that it just became impossible to collect the tax revenues which the Empire/Emperor desperately needed. The more the troops could not be paid, the more barbarian kingdoms were set up, the less revenue could be collected, the less money to pay the troops - and so on. I, personally, would not read Gibbon, other than for his (undoubted) literary merit. Scholarship, research and knowledge has moved on greatly since his day.

some components contributed. of direction there are numerous extra, yet those are the main important, and maximum severe ones: Over enlargement - they won't administration their borders. (extremely Germany). This finally ends up interior the 2d ingredient. Declining protection rigidity potential - The Roman protection rigidity became overstretched, and extremely almost everywhere it became engaged, it became battling a guerrilla conflict. in certainty, the Visigoths extremely sacked Rome in 410 until now the Empire fell. vulnerable management - by technique of the time of the fall of the Empire, the management of Rome were tactically inept, apathetic to his place, stupid, or a mix of the three for extremely a while. besides the undeniable fact that, that is needed keep in mind that Rome did not thoroughly fall. The jap Roman Empire, or the Byzantine Empire, survived for over one thousand years after the cave in of the Western Empire, and became a substantial participant even into the middle a protracted time. (They brought about the Crusades)

I would recommend GIBBON'S : THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE. This is because it has much much more information about the subject and Gibbon is unbaised. There is a long version comprising of a number of volumes and a short version comprising of one large volume. It goes into fine detail of what happened, the personalities, the incidents and events and the big picture. The longer version will take ages to fully read, but the shorter version can be read in a reasonable period. Although I would personally read the long version, the short version will give you enough information and a whole lot of insight. Hope this helps.

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon. His books on Rome are considered "bibles". They're dense, but packed with everything.

Read the Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire by Gibbon or History by Winston Churchill (3 vols.).

watch the movie Titus with Anthony Hopkin's

Definitely check online, but every great society dissolves from internal rot. Including the U.S.