12-06-2012, 06:51 PM
Quote:... at the time when Roman empire passed its peak of power (which was reached during the Trajan and the "five good emperors" period)
Debatable. I recall Ferrill wrote "..the army of Septimius Severus was as effective as the army of Trajan."
Quote:..and was heavily affected by the third century crisis, epidemics and especially endless internal strugles for power, economic problems, split of the empire and such
Bad as the mid third century was, the Empire rebounded and still seemed strong down to about late 4rth/5th century. The 5th century West certainly looked weak, but for reasons unrelated to most of the above.
