Which fact most clearly shows the difficulty in defending the Roman empire against invasion?

A.
At its height, the empire likely had a population as high as 100 million.

B.
At its height, the empire comprised nearly 1.7 million square miles of land and water.

C.
Over the course of its history, the Roman empire built about 55,000 miles of paved roads.

D.
The Mediterranean Sea stretches about 2,300 miles west to east and about 600 miles from Italy to the African coast

B. At its height, the empire comprised nearly 1.7 million square miles of land and water.

Drag and drop events to list them in order from first (top) to last (bottom).

Huns attack the empire and drive German peoples ahead of them.

Odoacer topples Romulus Augustus.

Imperial Crisis leads to civil war.

Roman forces withdraw from Britain as Goths attack Rome.

Imperial Crisis leads to civil war.

Roman forces withdraw from Britain as Goths attack Rome.

Huns attack the empire and drive German peoples ahead of them.

Odoacer topples Romulus Augustus.

The fact that most clearly shows the difficulty in defending the Roman empire against invasion is option B: At its height, the empire comprised nearly 1.7 million square miles of land and water.

Explanation:
Defending such a vast territory is a challenging task because it requires a significant amount of resources, including a large and well-trained military, communication and supply lines, and efficient coordination. The vastness of the Roman empire would have made it difficult to monitor and protect all of its borders, providing opportunities for invaders to penetrate and attack different regions. Additionally, the empire's size made it challenging to respond quickly to threats, especially with limited means of transportation and communication available during ancient times.