Initially, it was very effective. The army was ruthless, consisting of organized, brutal, and extremely loyal soldiers willing to do anything for their country. For hundreds of years, Rome continued to expand while remaining protected due to the sheer size and force of its military. However, the Roman border eventually became to large to control and its defense too expensive to be sustained. In the 300s C.E., steadily increasing numbers of Germanic people entered Rome, both as refugees and mercenaries. Ultimately these tribes overtook Roman emperors and established their own kingdoms. In 476 C.E., the German general Odoacer overthrew the last remaining Roman emperor, marking the true extinction of the Western Roman Empire. The longstanding success of the Roman Empire can be contributed largely to the leaders’ unwavering dedication to public works and technological advancement. The empire was also strengthened when the transition from early Paganism to Christianity was made. However, as the empire became larger, the military was less effective. The directly contributed to the Germanic invasions that helped to cause the fall of