The fall of the Roman Empire can be attributed to a combination of civil wars, migrations, and the inability to maintain military strength beyond its borders.

The Western Roman Empire's decline in the 5th century was gradual, lacking a single defining moment of collapse.

The traditional view attributes the fall of the Roman Empire to barbarian invasions, but other factors like climate change and disease also played significant roles.

The Roman Empire's succession problem was a significant failure of Augustus, who relied on heredity for leadership, leading to a series of incompetent rulers until a shift towards selecting qualified successors emerged.

The high point of the Roman Empire is often marked by the period of the five good emperors, who ruled wisely and promoted stability, contrasting with the chaotic succession that followed.

The Roman Empire's strength lay in its ability to incorporate diverse peoples, which was lost as it resisted integrating the Goths.

The Roman Empire lasted longer than Alexander's because it established a structured system of governance and integration of conquered peoples, unlike Alexander's empire, which fragmented after his death.

Roman history is conventionally divided into three periods: the monarchy (753-509 BC), the Republic (509-27 BC), and the Empire (27 BC-5th century AD).

The Roman Empire thrived during a favorable climate period, but faced decline during a subsequent cooling period known as the late Roman little ice age.