After the death of
Marcus Aurelius
, the Roman empire slowly started to decline. Potential new emperors began to focus on pleasing the
military
at the expense of the
people
. The resulting
Choose
was just one reason for the fall of the empire.
A. religious turmoil
B. foreign invasion
C. economic instability
D. outbreak of disease
B. foreign invasion
The possible reasons for the fall of the Roman empire after the death of Marcus Aurelius include:
- A. Religious turmoil: Religious strife and conflicts, such as the rise of Christianity and the clash between different religious sects, may have contributed to the decline of the empire. However, religious turmoil alone is unlikely to be the sole reason for the fall.
- B. Foreign invasion: The Roman empire faced various external threats and invasions from barbarian tribes, such as the Visigoths, Vandals, and Huns. These invasions significantly weakened the empire's military and territorial control.
- C. Economic instability: Economic factors, including inflation, declining trade, and a heavy tax burden, contributed to the empire's decline. The empire struggled with fiscal issues and struggled to maintain its prosperity.
- D. Outbreak of disease: While disease and pandemics, such as the Antonine Plague and the Plague of Cyprian, had a significant impact on the population and economy, they are generally considered contributing factors rather than the sole cause of the empire's fall.
It is important to note that the decline and fall of the Roman empire were influenced by a complex combination of political, social, economic, and military factors, and it is difficult to attribute it to a single reason.
The question is asking for one of the reasons for the fall of the Roman Empire after the death of Marcus Aurelius. To determine the correct answer, let's analyze each option:
A. Religious turmoil: This refers to conflicts and divisions within the empire due to religious differences. While religious turmoil was indeed a factor in the decline of the Roman Empire, it is not specifically mentioned in the given context.
B. Foreign invasion: This refers to military attacks and conquests by external forces. The passage mentions that potential new emperors focused on pleasing the military, which implies that there may have been external threats. Therefore, foreign invasion could be a likely reason for the fall of the empire.
C. Economic instability: This refers to economic challenges such as inflation, uneven distribution of wealth, or economic crises. The passage does not specifically mention economic instability; however, the fact that emperors prioritized the military at the expense of the people implies that there could have been economic issues. Therefore, economic instability could also be a plausible reason.
D. Outbreak of disease: This refers to the spread of a contagious illness that affects the population and disrupts normal functioning. The passage does not mention any outbreak of disease as a factor contributing to the decline of the Roman Empire.
Given the information provided, both options B (foreign invasion) and C (economic instability) seem to be viable reasons for the fall of the empire.