Yes but most of that didn't happen when the Western Empire collapsed politically. Most of that happened far later and guess what, to a significant extent it al

Yes but most of that didn't happen when the Western Empire collapsed politically. Most of that happened far later and guess what, to a significant extent it also happened in the East where the empire continued to exist. The Justinian plague had for more to do with the things you mentioned then anything about if you lived in the empire or outside. > Rome was just a few sparks away from triggering an industrial revolution a thousand years early. That's a waste extenuation.