What contributed to the beginning of the decline of the Roman Empire? Choose 4 answers that are correct. Select 4 correct answer(s) Question 2 options: Soldiers were not loyal to Rome as a whole; they were instead loyal to their local area or a certain leader. Exposure to diseases from other lands killed many Romans. Huge tax burdens on the Roman citizens. The Roman Empire, expansive as it was, could easily be governed by one person effectively. Very few Roman emperors in the centuries after Augustus were competent rulers; most were insane, greedy, or both. Regardless of the strength of the emperors, the Roman army was unable to hold back barbarian invasions from the south and west.