[SunkenCiv]

Justinian undermined the finances of everyone under his rule via massive taxation to bankroll his dream of reuniting the Roman Empire. By contrast, Basil II "the Bulgar-slayer" evolved into a great military leader in his own right, but left no children. The city managed to maintain itself despite its changing fortunes in the provinces, through oceangoing and even overland trade, even after Mad Mo the pedophile and his bloodthirsty cutthroat followers swept across N Africa and overthrew the Parthians.

[Rockingham]

In contrast, America's more fluid and competitive system produces needed political and policy changes on a timely basis via new popular movements and leaders. Andrew Jackson overthrew the original federal party system and secured America's expansion and internal settlement. Lincoln and the GOP ended slavery and set in motion the country's extraordinary industrial development. The late 19th Century and Teddy Roosevelt spurred urban and government reforms that combatted corruption and the dirt and disease of cities and established America as a new world power.

Just out of the reach of living memory, the Depression exposed fundamental weaknesses in America's financial system. To a measure at least, FDR and the New Deal helped to combat them, while Reagan came to power in 1980 and Trump in 2016 on pledges to reverse the excesses of the New Deal and to battle the entrenched power of elites reliant on federal power. Notably, both FDR and Reagan also dealt successfully with major foreign challenges and secured American military strength as second to none.

Despite Byzantium's accomplishments and long survival, it is most useful for us as a cautionary tale that supreme wealth, power, and technical competence are no guarantee of success and survival. Every civilization and system of government must still meet the challenges they face or perish. So, a tip of the cup toward Byzantium -- and three cheers for Donald Trump!