I've been reading late Roman and Middle Byzantine history lately to see if anything can be learned from those unhappy times...
And I'm surpirsed that the Romans were besieged by "Great Migrations" of people...who appearently were motivated
to get a piece of the Roman Imperial Action...but who did not exactly "buy into" the Roman way of life.
Curiously the Byzantine Empire was ruled by weak
and petty rulers...who were content
to ride on their ancestors prior achievements...
And were motivated only by greed for more wealth and power...
even if they didn't not know how to use it...
The Byzantine Emperors were petty, brutal
and dogmatic about Religion...while the Muslim conquerors in the 7th Century...were tolerant of all religious sects...as long as they
paid their taxes on time...! The conqueror must be tolerant...
after all he is a stranger in a strange
land...
But the Imperial Power is often weak, petty, dogmatic and brutal...
We certainly have the Great Migrations taking place today...
From Araby and Africa into Europe
And from Mexico, Asia and the Middle East into the US....
And unfortunately we also have our weak, petty,
dogmatic and brutal Emperors too!
