We all can agree that Africa is worth keeping right
How was Syria rich again? I know how Africa and Egypt were rich(breadbaskets) but I don't know about syriaWell of course. Africa, Egypt, Syria.
Y'know, all those rich provinces that the Romans lost because of Yarmouk are all worth keeping.
1) They are genuinely very rich
2) Money doesn't have to be spent to reconquer them
3) Resources can be deployed elsewhere.
Africa is the most worthwhile to keep - furthest from any real danger/invasion. And the former (continued? I don't know) powerbase of the Heraclian Dynasty.
How was Syria rich again? I know how Africa and Egypt were rich(breadbaskets) but I don't know about syria
Certainly more urbanised than say, Spain, or France at this point in history.
Rome controled the richest part of the western world until the Arabs came. In TTL Rome will keep most of it. I believe that those provinces with a Roman-Catholic population will eventually be lost.
Desert warfare is a bitch.
It was quite rich because it was quite urbanised. I don't know much about its farming, but it is the home of Damascus, and it is the entire levant, one of the most urbanised areas in history. Lots of people = lots of taxes and manpower.
Certainly more urbanised than say, Spain, or France at this point in history.