What if the Plague of Justinian never spread to the Byzantine Empire? How would that affect the Empire?
What if the Plague of Justinian never spread to the Byzantine Empire? How would that affect the Empire?
Some sort of plague hitting is inevitable because that's how ancient agrarian societies worked: without modern technology agriculture does not increase in productivity in proportion with population. Which means eventually your population starts to suffer form malnutrition and are vulnerable to plagues.
Granted you can change the timing of said plagues.
I suspect that the timing of that plague was very significant.
If it happened a bit later, when the Roman Empire had had a chance to re-absorb her western provinces, they might have stayed with the Empire a lot longer.
Having a massive, expensive, mankilling war immediately followed by a major plague is a total recipe for disaster. Having them be two separate events lets the tax base recover, for instance.
I suspect that the timing of that plague was very significant.
If it happened a bit later, when the Roman Empire had had a chance to re-absorb her western provinces, they might have stayed with the Empire a lot longer.
Having a massive, expensive, mankilling war immediately followed by a major plague is a total recipe for disaster. Having them be two separate events lets the tax base recover, for instance.
Also, I don't think the reconquest of the entire Western Empire would be feasible, with the sole exception of Africa, because of its interesting cost-benefit. The retaking of Italy itself was extremely costly, and no (serious) Emperor would risk far away campaigns in the West every time the perpetual hostilities Persia heat up into warfare. The "Spania" province was a fortunate accident on the benefit of Justinian, but it could not be maintained. Reconquering the whole of Gaul and Hispania is very implausible.
I suspect that the timing of that plague was very significant.
If it happened a bit later, when the Roman Empire had had a chance to re-absorb her western provinces, they might have stayed with the Empire a lot longer.
Having a massive, expensive, mankilling war immediately followed by a major plague is a total recipe for disaster. Having them be two separate events lets the tax base recover, for instance.
If the next 14 years of the Gothic Wars are averted, the Roman Empire is in a FAR better position. Its manpower can be more focused on the Sassanids, and the treasury would not be emptied.