The fall of the Roman Empire cannot be attributed to a single cause. Instead, it was the result of population decline, land loss, and deception. One of the things that played a significant role in the acceleration, however, was the expansion of his empire. At its peak under Emperor Augustus, the entire population of the Roman Empire was estimated at between 50 and 90 million. Due to the large population, it was difficult for emperors to control their empire, which in turn created disunity within it. Division and instability weakened the Roman army and left it defenseless against invaders. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Second, overexpansion destabilized the government and its currency. Emperors who needed to finance the vast empire made coins from less precious metals in an attempt to provide the required income. However, the resulting inflation made it difficult for armies and officers to cover the cost of necessary supplies, leaving them vulnerable. Instability in government also resulted from motivated men vying for emperor by causing war, unrest, and controversy. Civil wars used available military resources needed to defend against external assault. Another minor reason was what could be seen as moral contamination. The Romans invested time and money in gladiatorial battles, and "emperors such as Caligula and Nero became famous for wasting money on lavish parties where guests drank and ate until they fell ill." Fall of the Roman Empire. Retrieved from https://www.rome.info/history/empire/fall/. Another factor was the loss of several strategic positions. For example, when Rome lost many of its territories in North Africa in 439 AD, leaving its coasts along the Mediterranean Sea vulnerable. Furthermore, the Western Empire lost some of its rich lands to the Eastern Empire when they split in 286 AD. The main reason for Rome's fall was its size, which made it difficult for emperors to control. The empire proved too large to protect, finance and manage. Rome's territory was too large to defend because its surroundings extended for more than four thousand five hundred miles. The suburbs had proved too large for the military to control the incoming assaults. Rulers attempted to raise funds by expanding tariffs, however, without the money produced by conquest, they were unable to renew the empire's treasury. Third, with an area that stretched from Northern Europe to the Middle East, one man alone could not oversee the entire Roman Empire. Pronouncements and laws were sent to the governors of an area, but the emperor could not guarantee that they were followed. This extended disunity in rule between individuals and the legislature in Rome. The large size of the Roman Empire prevented rulers from financing, defending, and governing the empire, filling gaps that allowed wandering clans to attack. Due to the vast size of Rome, the Eastern and Western empires disunified and so did individuals of different social backgrounds. religions. Emperor Diocletian further divided the empire between the eastern and western kingdoms when he divided them both in 286 AD Wasson, D. “”Diocletian.”” (2014). Retrieved from https://www.ancient.eu/Diocletian/. This division left the western half defenseless and helpless, making it impossible to defend itself. The division also caused instability in the western half as it never again had the financial and military help of the eastern half.