However strong the imperial leadership in Rome, it became increasingly difficult to maintain the peace. 2. The fall of Rome cannot be traced to a singular cause. As the empire's boundaries expanded from Great Britain to the Near East, social and political control became increasingly difficult. Conquered peoples often revolted or refused to pay tributes. Inefficient and corrupt centralized government could not maintain political control over distant territories. The spread of Christianity throughout Roman lands threatened the integrity of the empire by calling into question Roman values, social order, and religious tradition. As Rome's tenuous grip on its remotest territories weakened, the empire became increasingly susceptible to invaders: especially the Germanic tribes.

3. Christianity sprouted when Judea was a Roman territory and thus, the most powerful empire at the time would feel the political implications of the new religion. Had Christianity evolved elsewhere it might not have played such a major role in shaping the world 2000 years ago. The small sect soon grew a group of followers who were at first persecuted heavily...

Christians refused to worship Roman gods, let alone recognize the Caesar ("Religion" nd). They were not only a religious cult but a political one: one that would prove enervating for the Romans. Gradually, however, Christianity took root. Constantine adopted the religion as his personal faith and as the state religion, transforming the Roman Empire and ultimately the entire world. The Holy Roman Empire became a Christian political entity. Christianity would replace the indigenous religions of Europe, and would later influence European social norms.
References

Hooker, R. (1996). "Rome: The Roman Kingdom." The Roman Republic. Retrieved Mar 26, 2007 at http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/ROME/KINGDOM.htm

Roman Religion." (nd). Retrieved Mar 26, 2007 at http://www.roman-empire.net/religion/religion.html

Social Order." (2006). The Roman Empire: In the First Century. On PBS.org. Retrieved Mar 26, 2007 at http://www.pbs.org/empires/romans/empire/order.html

Watering Ancient Rome." NOVA online. Retrieved Mar 26, 2007 at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/lostempires/roman/watering.html