The Roman Empire, despite its successes, faced growing challenges that eventually led to its division. By the 3rd century AD, the empire had become increasingly difficult to govern due to its vast size, administrative inefficiency, and internal instability. Economic troubles, military defeats, and pressure from invading tribes exacerbated these problems.

In 285 AD, Emperor Diocletian, recognizing the need for better governance, divided the empire into two parts: the Eastern Roman Empire (later known as the Byzantine Empire) and the Western Roman Empire. Diocletian ruled the eastern part, while his co-emperor Maximian ruled the west. This division allowed for more manageable administration and defense but also created competing power centers.

The division of the empire became more permanent when, in 395 AD, Emperor Theodosius I died and the empire was split into two halves: his sons, Arcadius and Honorius, inherited the Eastern and Western Roman Empires, respectively. While the Eastern Roman Empire continued to thrive, the Western Roman Empire faced mounting problems.

The Western Empire, weakened by internal strife, economic decline, and invasions by barbarian groups such as the Vandals, Visigoths, and Huns, gradually deteriorated. The fall of Rome in 476 AD, when the last Roman emperor, Romulus Augustulus, was deposed by the Germanic chieftain Odoacer, marked the official end of the Western Roman Empire. The Eastern Roman Empire, or Byzantine Empire, would continue to exist until the fall of Constantinople in 1453 AD. shutdown123