What term describes the decline of the once mighty Roman Empire due to various societal factors?

The term that best describes the decline of the once mighty Roman Empire due to various societal factors is decadence. This term encompasses the idea of moral and cultural decline, often associated with excess and a departure from the principles that initially contributed to the empire's strength. Decadence reflects the complexities of social structures, economic difficulties, and the loss of civic virtue that characterized the later years of the Roman Empire. It highlights how societal indulgences and a focus on luxury and self-interest can undermine a civilization.

In contrast, ascendancy refers to a period of rise and dominance, which is not applicable to the decline phase of the empire. Stagnation denotes a lack of growth or change, but it does not fully capture the broader cultural and moral implications of decline indicated by decadence. Resurgence suggests a comeback or revival, which is contradictory to the concept of decline observed in the Roman context. Thus, decadence aptly describes the factors that contributed to the fall of the Roman Empire.