Aeon+Psyche

How the fall of the Roman empire paved the road to modernity

The fall of the Roman Empire wasn’t a tragedy for civilisation. It was a lucky break for humanity as a whole

209

history

Takeaways

Yet all these enduring influences pale against Rome’s most important legacy: its fall. Had its empire not unravelled, or had it been replaced by a similarly overpowering successor, the world wouldn’t have become modern.

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