The Roman empire was so all-encompassing, that it politically absorbed many of its invaders - even as these invaded. Thus barbarians like the Franks were formally recognised. To contemporaries, they appeared as imperial agents. Wonder to what extent that‘s happening now.
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A curious aspect of the collapse of the western roman empire, is that most sources don‘t seem to be deeply aware that it happened.
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Replying to @eugyppius1
You probably have a more thorough knowledge of the primary sources, but this book made a convincing argument (to me) that the fifth century was more catastrophic (and more perceived by contemporaries as such) than I had previously believed. https://www.amazon.com/Fall-Rome-End-Civilization-ebook/dp/B006OYD2K6/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=the+fall+of+rome&qid=1621535895&s=books&sr=1-2 …
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Ward-Perkins is fantastic. I was only talking about the lack of contemporary awareness of political discontinuity, in fact I‘m very opposed to the (mostly American) collection of scholars claiming that nothing much happened after 400.
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