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A contemporary of Augustine was Jerome ("Saint Jerome"), who translated the Hebrew Old Testament and Greek New Testament into Latin.  This became known as the Vulgate, and remained the authoritative Bible for over 1000 years.

A contemporary of Augustine was Jerome ("Saint Jerome"), who translated the Hebrew Old Testament and Greek New Testament into Latin.  This became known as the Vulgate, and remained the authoritative Bible for over 1000 years.

==Military Reasons for the Fall of the Roman Empire (in the West)==

===Enemies Causing Fall of the Roman Empire (in the West)===

A barbaric, nomadic tribe known as the Asiatic Huns began moving into Europe from Asia in two independent tribes of nomadic barbarians, the Germanic Goths and Asiatic Huns.  They launched fierce attacks on the Roman empire in the West in the late 300s (A.D.).  The western Goths were known as "Visigoths".

A barbaric, nomadic tribe known as the Asiatic Huns began moving into Europe from Asia in two independent tribes of nomadic barbarians, the Germanic Goths and Asiatic Huns.  They launched fierce attacks on the Roman empire in the West in the late 300s (A.D.).  The western Goths were known as "Visigoths".

Meanwhile, other ethnic groups migrated around Europe in what is called the "Migration of the Peoples."  Times were changing and the Roman empire was not likely to survive.  In A.D. 410, the Visigoths, led by their king Alaric, invaded and "sacked" (ransacked) Rome.

Meanwhile, other ethnic groups migrated around Europe in what is called the "Migration of the Peoples."  Times were changing and the Roman empire was not likely to survive.  In A.D. 410, the Visigoths, led by their king Alaric, invaded and "sacked" (ransacked) Rome.

===Attila the Hun===

====Attila the Hun====

The Huns had tremendous horsemanship skills that enabled them to strike with lightning speed.  They were also extraordinarily accurate archers on horseback, and made ferocious charges on their enemies.  The nomadic Huns defeated everything in their path from A.D. 370 to 455 in southeastern Europe, creating widespread panic throughout the Roman empire.  The fear they inspired in their enemies was worse than anything in history.     

The Huns had tremendous horsemanship skills that enabled them to strike with lightning speed.  They were also extraordinarily accurate archers on horseback, and made ferocious charges on their enemies.  The nomadic Huns defeated everything in their path from A.D. 370 to 455 in southeastern Europe, creating widespread panic throughout the Roman empire.  The fear they inspired in their enemies was worse than anything in history.     

A year later, at only age 47, Attila died apparently from a mere nosebleed, choking to death on his own blood.  It was an ironically [[pathetic]] cause of death for one of the most feared warriors in the history of the world.

A year later, at only age 47, Attila died apparently from a mere nosebleed, choking to death on his own blood.  It was an ironically [[pathetic]] cause of death for one of the most feared warriors in the history of the world.

===Germanic Tribes===

====Germanic Tribes====

Attila was gone, but the Germanic tribes remained to wreak havoc on the Roman empire and ultimately ensure its complete fall.  These Germanic tribes included the Saxons in northern Germany; the Angles and Saxons in England; the Visigoths in Spain; the Ostrogoths in Italy; the Vandals in North Africa; and the Franks in France.

Attila was gone, but the Germanic tribes remained to wreak havoc on the Roman empire and ultimately ensure its complete fall.  These Germanic tribes included the Saxons in northern Germany; the Angles and Saxons in England; the Visigoths in Spain; the Ostrogoths in Italy; the Vandals in North Africa; and the Franks in France.

The Germanic nomads caused rural peasants to flee into the cities, weakening them.  Recall that in A.D. 410 the Visigoths, a wandering nation of Germanic people from the northeast, led by King Alaric, sacked Rome itself.  Another German chieftain named Odoacer finished the job off in A.D. 476, when he dethroned the last Roman Emperor of the West: Romulus Augustulus.

The Germanic nomads caused rural peasants to flee into the cities, weakening them.  Recall that in A.D. 410 the Visigoths, a wandering nation of Germanic people from the northeast, led by King Alaric, sacked Rome itself.  Another German chieftain named Odoacer finished the job off in A.D. 476, when he dethroned the last Roman Emperor of the West: Romulus Augustulus.

===Persians===

====Persians====

Another powerful enemy was poised to attack from east of the Roman empire.  The Persians had been weakened by internal conflict until Ardashir, grandson of Sassan, killed the last Parthian king in 224.  That heralded the beginning of the Sassanian dynasty, which ruled for hundreds of years until the Arabs arrived in 637-51.

Another powerful enemy was poised to attack from east of the Roman empire.  The Persians had been weakened by internal conflict until Ardashir, grandson of Sassan, killed the last Parthian king in 224.  That heralded the beginning of the Sassanian dynasty, which ruled for hundreds of years until the Arabs arrived in 637-51.

But the Persians had the same problems that plagued the Romans: raids by uncivilized peoples on their frontiers.  '''The decline of the ancient world was not so much due to one civilized group defeating another, but rather the calamity of barbarians destroying civilization'''.

But the Persians had the same problems that plagued the Romans: raids by uncivilized peoples on their frontiers.  '''The decline of the ancient world was not so much due to one civilized group defeating another, but rather the calamity of barbarians destroying civilization'''.

==Other Reasons for the Fall of the Roman Empire (in the West)==

===Other Reasons for Fall of the Roman Empire (in the West)===

'''A.D. 476 is the date used for the "fall" of the Roman empire'''.  That was when the last Roman Emperor, nine-year-old Romulus Augustus, was deposed (removed from power).  Keep in mind, however, that the eastern half of the Roman empire based in Constantinople that split from the west in A.D. 264 never "fell"; it thrived for another thousand years.

'''A.D. 476 is the date used for the "fall" of the Roman empire'''.  That was when the last Roman Emperor, nine-year-old Romulus Augustus, was deposed (removed from power).  Keep in mind, however, that the eastern half of the Roman empire based in Constantinople that split from the west in A.D. 264 never "fell"; it thrived for another thousand years.