@CatImperator @vintagemapstore Decline when speaking of Imperial systems is usually quantified by lessening sophistication & power. The Roman Empire was in decline from the death of Marcus Aurelius. Certain emperors were able to arrest the decline or even roll back some of its progress, but never fully.

@CatImperator @vintagemapstore The Roman Empire that built the Colosseum, the great aqueducts, Hadrian’s Wall, etc. was gone in the West. Could it have been revived in the early 400s, maybe? But only the Eastern Empire retained this power & sophistication.

@CatImperator @vintagemapstore (Hagia Sophia, Justinian’s Law Codes, Belisarius’s reconquests, etc.) Ostrogothic Italy was a kingdom that returned some normalcy to Italy after decades of strife & devastating invasions but it certainly wasn’t a renaissance.

@CatImperator @vintagemapstore It’s architecture was humbler & it’s power projection non-existent. Pottery was simpler, trade lessened, minting coinage lessened, Rome’s population was 50% of its peak (generously), and much urban infrastructure was neglected.

@CatImperator @vintagemapstore The Ostrogoths simply didn’t have the ability as a regional power to act as the hegemon Imperial Rome was, hence decline. I agree the idea the barbarian invasions meant instant “Dark Ages” is wrong but to argue Western Europe wasn’t in decline before & after invasions is wrong.