Could the fall of the roman empire, and the subsequent migration age, be related to climate change?

Question

to clarify, could climate change have caused the Germanic tribes to migrate due to changes in their food supply. which is why the roman empire was overran and fell?

Answer 1

When thinking of this, you have to keep in mind that the Romans were an extremely developed society, and were far ahead of their time technologically and mentally. Something like a climate change could cause a society failure of much earlier civilizations, but not Rome.

Answer 2

Previous answers were right in that Rome had been collapsing from within at the time. But you are right that climate change had affected the Germanic Tribes. Temperatures had dropped causing a shortage of cropland. As well was the fact that in Denmark, large areas had flooded causing several tribes such as the Saxons to migrate into Germany and then into Britain. Had they migrated into the Rome of Julius and Augustus Caesar they probably would not have conquered it.

Answer 3

I don't think so.  I think the problem is that the Romans became corrupt and/or complacent.  They also stretched themselves so thinly.

Answer 4

I imagine the key would be to check for drought conditions in central asia during the time period, as most of the migratory tribes were forced into Europe by tribes further out.  Then again, you could make the same argument for any period of drought which followed a prolonged period of ideal conditions, so it would be wrong to call it climate change just to link it to current events.

So I wouldn't rule it out, but I'd want some hard data.

Answer 5

The 5th century A.D. when the Roman Empire fell to transmigrating hordes of barbarians from northern Europe was not a period of significant climactic change. What is generally accepted was the fact that during this period, the Germanic tribes of northern Europe were being displaced by the arrival of warlike tribes coming from the east, specifically Mongolia, from which the Huns of Attila also originated.  Although there had been cases of Roman and Germanic cooperation in the empire, at least in the northern frontier area,  this time the Roman authorities adamantly refused the wholesale entry of barbarians into the empire.  This caused a resentment and ultimately anger in the ranks of the anxious barbarians, and so they crossed over and the rest is history.