An Abundance of Empires The 5th century was one of the most important time periods in history as it was the time of rising and falling empires. Every empire both starts and finishes with a great impact on those that follow and for the future that is to come. In the midst of the 400s, the Roman Empire was on its great decline, reaching the end of its long rule. While its neighboring empire, the Byzantine Empire, was on the hugely significant rise to the top and became the dominant standing command. The writings of Priscus and Salvian of Marseilles provide an in-depth understanding of what it’s like to be a part of both the rising and the falling empire and how the environment varies between them. The Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire both …show more content…
Priscus is much more aggressive in his argument, while Salvian tends to agree to what is being argued. Priscus, while responding to a question about the Roman’s tendency to go to war, said that it was just how the Romans had created their society/how it functions. The Romans do not want to take any risks in being unprotected, simply by habit. (Priscus’ “Court of Attila”, page 165) But when Salvian speaks about issues, he agrees to the fact that the rich of the empire have several advantages over the rich. He agrees that the poor are always ridiculously and unfairly over-taxed and how corrupt it has …show more content…
It is evident that both empires each had their own set of similarities and differences in almost every single aspect. Priscus’ and Salvian of Marseilles’ writings show a slight look into what it is like to have lived during these crucial time periods in history. Each have their own set of views and understanding of their empires and how they each individually represented their nation as a whole. Times tells all wonders, in which Priscus stands up for his Roman culture and points out the faults of other nations. Meanwhile, Salvian of Marseilles accepts the mistakes of his people and the varying viewpoints of other arguments. This just comes to show that in comparison, each immense empire was built and survived of imperfections and also extraordinary measures that made them what they