You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly. You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
alternatehistory.com
The Roman Empire had lost its grip on its own land. The last emperor had been deposed and was replaced by Odoacer. The empire had already fallen into disarray and was replaced by a Germanic Kingdom. With that, darkness loomed over the land, and all Roman thought had been lost. Many Germans had moved into the territory, in which many Romans did not like. They hated every part of foreign rule by a barbarian. The Gothic Kings were very naïve to the discontent of the many Romans that lived there and preferred their own tribes instead. The Romans and Goths lived together like cats and dogs and often did not talk to each other.
All throughout the Italian peninsula, life had changed really, really fast. Many of the buildings in Rome fell into disarray and an economic depression had plagued Roman society. Roman society was crumbling beneath its feet and running water had been missing. The Roman forum had been turned into a swine farm. People had started to live in shacks and many building materials were quarried from notable Roman buildings. Rome had went from an urban society to a very pastoral, rural society. Widespread poverty was a problem for both the Romans and the Goths. Trade had basically halted and done with land.
During that time, there were several mobs that always fought each other and certainly ethnic tensions. The Romans and the Goths did not reproduce and had been loyal to their race. It was rare for them to be friends with them. They always fought in the streets daily in the market. This caused discontent in the Italian peninsula. For years at a time, the riots at the Italian peninsula continued with no end in sight. About 10,000 people were murdered during that time and thousands more perished in the streets.