Keith, that man was prophesyin' for sure. Another element to add to the mix is the fact that Rome and her people had lost touch with their roots. It's been said that it was an act of political genius for Rome to grant the much-desired status of Roman citizenship to the peoples it conquered, thus binding their future to that of the empire. The downside of that policy is that it diluted the influence of the "real" Romans as a stabilizing force. They were vastly outnumbered by "foreign" citizens, with different religious, cultural and socio-political traditions, resulting in a disconnect with the very heritage and values that had made Rome great to begin with. It was the world's first experience with so-called multiculturalism, and the result was the disastrous Dark Ages.

Deja veux all over again?