What really destroyed the state? Researchers were able to find out about an important reason.

The fall of the Roman Empire is one of the greatest mysteries of history. Wars, plagues, climate catastrophes – versions have multiplied over the centuries, but there has been no definitive answer.

Until now. New research turns the conventional wisdom upside down: according to scientists, the key reason for the collapse was the war with Persia, which literally cut off the empire’s trade arteries, leaving it without a lifeline.

How War Changed Everything

For centuries, the Roman Empire prospered, trading with the world via the Mediterranean. Pottery, wine, oil—goods flew across the regions like hotcakes. But the Persians, the Romans’ eternal rivals, played their card: they captured the most important trade routes, and the state’s economy began to crumble at the seams.

Moreover, the Persian threat forced the Roman Empire to devote enormous resources to military campaigns. Although Emperor Heraclius won a glorious victory, the Persian army was routed, but the cost was exorbitant: trade routes were destroyed, and the economy was undermined.

The Riddle of the Seas

Scientists turned to an amazing source of data — sunken ships. Hundreds of vessels lying on the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea became a kind of marker of trade activity. The analysis showed that at the end of the 5th century, the number of shipwrecks sharply decreased by almost half, and by the 7th century there were very few of them.

A paradox? This does not indicate the disappearance of trade, but a sharp decline in volume. Places where life had once buzzed – from Naples to Carthage – became deserted. Rome lost its trading ‘lungs’, and with them the ability to breathe deeply.

Ceramics and its secrets

A huge collection of pottery from Nessana, a small town in the south of modern-day Israel, has revealed another interesting fact. In the sixth century, contrary to the popular theory of a crisis, production of goods and trade were actually growing. This meant that the empire still had potential, but the broken ties with Persia were the final nail in its coffin.

What about the plague and the climate?

It has long been thought that the Roman Empire fell because of the plague or climate change. But researchers are now disproving these theories. ‘Life in the sixth century was quite normal for most Romans,’ they say. Natural disasters certainly played a role, but they were not the main cause of the collapse.

Why is this important today?

This historical lesson is surprisingly relevant. The authors of the study warn that looking for the root of all troubles in natural disasters is dangerous. Yes, climate change has always existed, but this is no reason to ignore modern challenges. Human error, economic shocks and conflicts can cause no less damage than the climate.

The fall of the Roman Empire is not just a story of wars and conquests. It is a reminder of how closely intertwined economics, politics, and human ambition are. Even the greatest civilization can be destroyed not by external blows, but by internal cracks that seem insignificant for a long time. You can share this story on social media: