This paper will attempt to uncover the economic reasons behind the collapse of the Roman Empire. It will be argued that the empire catalyzed its own demise. The progressive taxation that peaked in the 5th century A.D., the increasing difficulty of rule from an aloof Rome, and the economic inequality that existed, basically made it inevitable. The Roman society was simply not based on fundamentals that could sustain growth. 7 pgs. 6 f/c. 4b.
