It absolutely was. Just greedy oligarchs squabbling over power and stealing as much as they could. No parallels to current events, of course.
"On hearing the news that Rome had “perished”, Honorius was initially shocked, thinking the news was in reference to a favourite chicken he had named “Roma”.
It was absolutely every bit as stupid as today. People really haven’t changed much in 2000 years.
Yea, yes it was. The fall of western Rome was marked with lots of stupid, including xenophobia and racism and rich idiots in charge who should have never been anywhere near government.
What with all the leaded water and wine, it was likely even more stupid.
The late empire was a pretty silly place. That’s what happens when the elite has to pretend a failing system works.
Without a shared righteous moral code, what else can we expect but men being wolves to their fellow men and a community’s inevitable implosion?
