The primary reason for the collapse of the Roman Empire was a combination of internal weaknesses and external pressures. Economic instability, political corruption, overreliance on slave labor, and a weakening military contributed to its decline. Additionally, the Empire faced external threats from invading tribes such as the Visigoths and Vandals. The division of the Empire into Eastern and Western halves made it more difficult to manage effectively. The traditional date often cited for the fall of the Western Roman Empire is 476 AD when the last Roman emperor, Romulus Augustulus, was deposed.