[t]he decline of rome was the natural and inevitable effect of immoderate [excessive] greatness. prosperity ripened the principle of decay; the causes of destruction multiplied with the extent of conquest; and, as soon as time or accident had removed the artificial supports, the stupendous fabric yielded to the pressure of its own weight. this is a passage from a famous book by edward gibbon called the decline and fall of the roman empire. gibbon was a english historian who devoted much of his life documenting the history of rome’s fall. what is the main idea of this passage? rome fell because of food shortages and inflation. rome fell because it had conquered too much territory. rome fell because it hired too many mercenaries. rome fell because its government had become politically unstable.