Strayer, Gatzke, and Harbison, The Course of Civilization, Harcourt, Brace and
World, Inc., 1961 (adapted)
"The basic trouble was that very few inhabitants of the empire believed that
the old civilization was worth saving.... The overwhelming majority of
the population had been systematically excluded from political
responsibilities. They could not organize to protect themselves; they could
not serve in the army. ... Their economic plight was hopeless."
What were the basic
problems facing the
Western Roman
Empire, according to
these authors?