Most historians will argue over the date....but a majority will say Rome 'fell' around 476 AD. It wasn't a quick thing, or a single war, or organized effort. Most folks go to five central themes of the 'end'.
1. Economic instability. There was a period of chronic inflation, which led the authorities to spiraling taxation. At some point, the need for cheap labor(slaves mostly).....led onto economic resilience. In effect....the military and size of the empire drained it's resources.
2. Military overreach? The empire had a massive border to start with, and only grew. At some point....they went to mercenaries to ensure public safety.
3. Political corruption and instability became a daily problem in the end. With frequent changes in leadership....either through assassination or a coup...only worsen matter. Toward the end....provincial governors had excessive power, which helped to undermine central authority. This effort around 284 AD....to divide the Empire into two sections? It didn't help matters.
4. Social/cultural decay? Toward the last hundred years....you could make a case for urban decay. People lacked pride in what they had. Everywhere you looked....there was an erosion in the social system.
5. Everywhere you looked over the last 100 years...external pressure. The frontier was overwhelmed.
6. Finally, there's this environmental and demographic problem. The plague wrecked stability.....with the climate continually changing the agricultural output.
You can look around and see dozens of references to the American 'empire' decline, and suggest the ending story.
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