Although the Roman Empire was truly affected by external threats, I believe that it fell as a result of internal decay. Two influential internal causes of the fall were economy and social issues. Slavery, high taxes, and government spending contributed to economic decline. Also the attitudes of the people greatly affected the future of the already weakening Western Roman Empire. First, the economy proved to be a factor in the decline of the empire. Slavery was the cause of a great increase in unemployment, as the use of slaves in the workforce took over the jobs of peasants and ruined the free peasantry (document 3). Many people lost their businesses and jobs (document 3). Another economic situation involved the government and its high taxes, as well as spending. The central government of the Roman Empire was forced to increase taxes, as the price of keeping up the large empire increased. There were land taxes, property taxes, occupation taxes, and poll taxes (document 4). The high taxes were difficult to manage, and again, many were left poor. However, government spending was also a problem. Money the government earned from taxes went mainly to the bureaucracy required by a central government and the maintenance of the army (document 4). In addition, social situations also contributed to the fall of the Roman Empire. Social issues, including the spread of Christianity as well as the feelings of the people toward the Roman Empire, greatly influenced the decline. As Christianity spread throughout the empire, the outlook of people on life and the treatment of others changed. Love thy neighbor and salvation in order to reach heaven caused the people to become more thoughtful of others and less devoted to the emperor. This situation hurt the military, where remains of military spirit were buried in the cloister (document 2). These men lost their fight, their war-like ways as this new religion taught the evilness and sin in hurting others