Climate Change and the Fall of the Roman Empire

[Kuningaz]

explain your decadence theory

Well, decadence may not be exactly the right word for this, but what I meant was the increasing unwillingness of Romans to serve in their own armies and the general reluctance to wage war (they'd rather pay their enemies off). Plus the emperors' court(s) was/were ripe with intrigues that damaged Rome's ability to resist their multiple enemies.
And yes, it took A LOT to take the Roman Empire down, especially the East's resiliance was astonishing.

[Vaginacles]

Well, decadence may not be exactly the right word for this, but what I meant was the increasing unwillingness of Romans to serve in their own armies and the general reluctance to wage war (they'd rather pay their enemies off). Plus the emperors' court(s) was/were ripe with intrigues that damaged Rome's ability to resist their multiple enemies.
And yes, it took A LOT to take the Roman Empire down, especially the East's resiliance was astonishing.

i don't know if this was necessarly true, considering that the roman military in the 4th century was more or less equal to the 2nd century imperial army. Plus, with the new inherited system of profession reforms by Diocletian, all sons of soldiers were compelled to be soldiers as their main profession. It still doesn't address why the east survive but the west fell, since the eastern roman empire had just as many, if not more, barbarian auxillia compared to the western empire.