The primary reason for the fall of the Roman Empire was a combination of internal strife and external pressures. Internally, political corruption, economic troubles, and a decline in civic pride eroded the stability of the empire. Externally, invasions by barbarian groups like the Vandals, Goths, and Huns, along with the empire’s inability to effectively manage its vast territories, contributed significantly to its decline. The division of the empire into Eastern and Western halves in the late 3rd century also weakened the Western Roman Empire, culminating in its eventual collapse in 476 AD when the last emperor, Romulus Augustulus, was deposed.