answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

During the 4th and 5th centuries, the two halves of the Roman Empire, the Eastern Empire which was ruled from the Emperor in the new imperial capital of Constantinople, and the Western Empire, which was ruled from the Emperor in Ravenna, faced numerous barbarian invasions during this time period. the East would eventually weather the storm, surviving for another thousand years til 1453 as what later historians would call the Byzantine Empire. However, the western Empire was unable to cope with the numerous problems that they faced, such as hyperinflation, lack of a strong standing military, corruption, and lastly and most importantly, the invasions of the Germanic tribes. the first of these significant tribes was the Goths under Alaric, who in 410 sacked the eternal city of Rome, something that had not happened since the 4th century B.C. when Gauls defeated a Roman army and sacked the city soon after.

Eventually Rome would be taken by the Vandals and besieged by the Huns. As more and more different tribes swarmed across the Rhine and the Pannonian plains (present day Austria) the Emperors in Ravenna were forced to give more and more territory to tribes such as the Visigoths in Gaul then Spain, the Vandals in Africa, the Franks in Gaul, and finally, the Ostrogoths in Italy. The ostrogoths gained Italy when the last Roman ruler, Romulus Augustulus was deposed by the Suevi general Odoacer. the Ostrogothic ruler Theodoric waged war against Odoacer. He eventually persuaded Odoacer to surrender and rule was joint rulers from Ravenna. Yet less than a week later at a banquet, as Odoacer was being seated, Theodoric emerged and cut Odoacer in half from collar to thighbone. Odoacers family was slaughtered and Theodoric went on to establish a kingdom that would last until the middle of the 6th century, when Eastern Roman forces would invade Italy to reconquer the lost province's.

But, the reconquest of Italy under the great Byzantine General Belisarius, and the eunuch Narses is for another time, being far too long and detailed to answer here.

User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago

It was caused by what has been called the migarion period. There were southward migrations from northern Europe and westward migrations from Asia and eastern Europe. This created population pressure on the land in central Europe. This was made worse by the arrival of the Huns in Hungary. It caused the Vandals, Sueves and Alans to invade Gaul in 406 AD. The Burgundians probably followed this wave. The Alemanni of southern Germany took advantage of this to take over Switzerland, Alsace and Lorraine. This was the first phase of the migration period (c.-400-500 AD). In the second phase (c. 500-800 AD) the Slavs settled in eastern Europe and invaded part of Balkans (in the Eastern Roman Empire).

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: What caused the Germanic invasions of the Roman Empire?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about General History

Why was the battle of adrianople of a decisive battle?

Because it marks the beginning of Germanic invasions into the Roman Empire on a massive scale.


What Problems Did The Germanic Tribes Cause to the roman empire?

The Germanic peoples invaded the western part of the Roman Empire and caused it to fall. They eventually took over all of its lands. The eastern part of the Roman Empire was not affected by these invasions and continued to exist for nearly 1,000 years.


Did the roman empire lose its discipline and thus endanger the roman empire and cause it to be overrun?

The loss of discipline to the Roman army(again western empire) occurred late in the fall of Rome. It was largely caused by the sheer influx of foreign/barbarian troops to fill the legions that Roman citizens would not do. So I'd say no.


What were the most contributing factors that was significant in the fall of the western roman empire?

The western Part of the Roman Empire fell under the weight of the invasions by the Germanic peoples who eventually took over all of its lands. The eastern part of the Roman Empire was not affected by these invasions and continued to exist for nearly 1,000 years.


Why did Rome crumble?

It was the western part of the Roman Empire which collapsed. There are many reasons for this. The most important factor were the invasions of this part of the empire by Germanic peoples who took over all of its lands, expert for Italy. Eventually Italy was also taken over by Germanic peoples. The eastern part of the Roman Empire was not affected by these invasions and continued to exist for another 1,000 years.

Related questions

Why was the battle of adrianople of a decisive battle?

Because it marks the beginning of Germanic invasions into the Roman Empire on a massive scale.


What Problems Did The Germanic Tribes Cause to the roman empire?

The Germanic peoples invaded the western part of the Roman Empire and caused it to fall. They eventually took over all of its lands. The eastern part of the Roman Empire was not affected by these invasions and continued to exist for nearly 1,000 years.


Which groups invaded the Western Roman Empire?

Germanic invasions began in the 400s


Why roman empire fall?

The western part of the Roman Empire fell under the weight of the invasions by the Germanic peoples. The eastern part of the roman Empire was not affected by these invasions and continued to exist for nearly 1,000 years.


Did the roman empire lose its discipline and thus endanger the roman empire and cause it to be overrun?

The loss of discipline to the Roman army(again western empire) occurred late in the fall of Rome. It was largely caused by the sheer influx of foreign/barbarian troops to fill the legions that Roman citizens would not do. So I'd say no.


Did the wars that fighted with roman empire made it fall?

The western part of the Roman Empire fell under the stain of the invasions by the Germanic peoples. The eastern part of this empire was not affected by these invasions and continued to exist for nearly 1,000 years.


How did the migration of Germanic tribes contribute to the fall of the roman empire?

Several Germanic tribes invaded the western part of the Roman Empire to migrate in search of new lands to settle. The Romans were not able to repel these invasions. This started the process of the fall of this part of the empire. The eastern part of the Roman Empire was not affected by these invasions and continued to exist for nearly 1,000 years.


Why was the battle of Adrianople decisive battle?

because it marks the beginning of Germanic invasions into the Roman Empire on a massive scale.


Did the army lose its disclipine and thus endanger the empire and cause?

The Roman army lost its discipline after the invasions of the empire, not before. This made the Romans unable to respond to the invasions. Prior to the invasions, the problems of the Roman army was that it was overstretched (due to many attempted invasions at points on the frontiers of the empire which were distant from each other) and that it had an insufficient number of soldiers. Due to the latter, the Romans recruited Germanic mercenaries and relied on Germanic allies in some areas.


What is considered as a major cause of fall of the roman empire?

The invasions by the Germanic peoples precipitated the fall of the western part of the Roman Empire. They eventually took over all of its lands. The eastern part of the Roman Empire was not affected by these invasions and continued to exist for nearly 1,000 years.


What were the most contributing factors that was significant in the fall of the western roman empire?

The western Part of the Roman Empire fell under the weight of the invasions by the Germanic peoples who eventually took over all of its lands. The eastern part of the Roman Empire was not affected by these invasions and continued to exist for nearly 1,000 years.


Why did Rome crumble?

It was the western part of the Roman Empire which collapsed. There are many reasons for this. The most important factor were the invasions of this part of the empire by Germanic peoples who took over all of its lands, expert for Italy. Eventually Italy was also taken over by Germanic peoples. The eastern part of the Roman Empire was not affected by these invasions and continued to exist for another 1,000 years.