[arthurus]

You need to read a little more widely. Gothic Spain and Gaul were growing richer and expanding population through the 6th century. Roman civilization sans the Empire was spreading into Germany until the Mohammedan piracy and raiding cut off the trade supply of luxuries and primarily papyrus to Western Europe. The general literacy of Gothic Spin and Gaul disappeared in a few decades, The incessant coastal raiding of the moslems with its destruction and slave taking caused the lowland farmers to retreat to hilltop fortified communities and the lowland farms were abandoned as unusable.

The conclusions- Epilogue

Now read the book and tell me about the Goths.

[rmlew]

I read the piece and disagree. Select trappings of Rome is not Roman civilization.