Barbarians to Angels is written by archeologist Peter Wells who states that archaeological evidence shows people thriving in areas of the post Western Roman Empire despite what the contemporary texts wrote.
It’s an interesting read.
Thanks Snickering Hound. From the poltical standpoint, the western parts of the empire shattered during the 3rd century, but the economic life continued to thrive, and merchants traveled between the schismatic “empires” as before. This went on after the legions vanished in the west. “Dark Ages” Britain shows up in the form of continued occupation of former Roman sites, and these strata contain Byz. pottery and other goods from distant places, which implies their products — whatever they may have been — got bartered for the foreign goods.
http://www.amazon.com/Barbarians-Angels-Dark-Ages-Reconsidered/dp/0393335399/
Excellent and a similar theme is followed in America 3.0, although the focus is on the Germanic liberty thread that moved through England and then to America.