The empire's vast size made it difficult to govern effectively from "summary" of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon
The Roman Empire, stretching from the British Isles to the deserts of Arabia, was a vast expanse of land that posed numerous challenges to effective governance. The sheer size of the empire meant that communication and transportation were slow and difficult, making it hard for the central government to exercise control over distant provinces. Provincial governors often had to make decisions on their own, without direct oversight from Rome, leading to corruption and abuse of power. In addition, the diversity of languages, cultures, and customs within the empire made it challenging to create uniform laws and policies that would be accepted and followed by all. The vast size of the empire also made it vulnerable to external threats, as it was difficult to defend such a large territory from invaders. The Roman army, while formidable, was stretched thin trying to protect the empire's borders, making it easier for enemies to launch successful attacks. Furthermore, the empire's vast size also made it difficult to maintain infrastructure and provide basic services to all its citizens. Roads deteriorated, cities became overcrowded and unsanitary, and basic necessities like food and water were often in short supply in distant provinces.- The sheer size of the Roman Empire presented numerous challenges to effective governance, ultimately contributing to its decline and fall. The difficulties in communication, transportation, diversity, defense, and infrastructure maintenance all played a role in weakening the empire and making it more vulnerable to collapse.
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