just as an interestin aside theres actually a lot of literature declaring, predicting, and bemoaning the falling roman empire. usually wrapped in pagan or christian pretenses---we abandoned the gods, we're not christian enough yet sorta stuff
Well noted, we also have to make a distinction between doomsday mythology(eschatology) and the sort of social economic analysis that is realy necessary.
A modern historian could go back to 100 AD and reliably point to every single point of failure that is inevitably going to lead to the collapse. the question of the Roman collapse becomes a fact even if it hasn't happened yet, but contemporary normal people would probably not acknowledge that with the exception you mention.
just as an interestin aside theres actually a lot of literature declaring, predicting, and bemoaning the falling roman empire. usually wrapped in pagan or christian pretenses---we abandoned the gods, we're not christian enough yet sorta stuff
Well noted, we also have to make a distinction between doomsday mythology(eschatology) and the sort of social economic analysis that is realy necessary.
A modern historian could go back to 100 AD and reliably point to every single point of failure that is inevitably going to lead to the collapse. the question of the Roman collapse becomes a fact even if it hasn't happened yet, but contemporary normal people would probably not acknowledge that with the exception you mention.