The Fall of Rome

For several hundred years, the Roman Empire brought peace and safety to the people of many countries.

They had fine towns to live in and good roads and harbors. The Roman governors saw that the laws were kept, and criminals were punished. The Roman legions kept peace all along the frontiers.

Then came a time when the Romans found it less and less easy to rule their huge empire. Rome was not as great and powerful as it had once been. Some of the emperors were wise and just, but others were weak, greedy, and cruel, unable to govern the empire properly.

There were even times when Romans fought each other. Sometimes, if an emperor died, the legions would not accept the new emperor. Then the soldiers marched to Rome and fought to make one of their own leaders emperor.