Thread by @EMBurlingame

The United States of America isn’t modern Rome, it’s modern Byzantium! - a🧵

The division of the Roman Empire into the Eastern (Byzantium) and Western Roman Empire is the most direct and critically important example for the splitting of the British Empire into the Eastern British Empire and the Western British Empire (United States) and for what now is occurring across much of the world. The once great Eastern British Empire centered in London is now in full decline while the Western British Empire centered in Washington D.C., should it survive the current crisis, is poised to continue for another thousand years.

The Roman Empire, which at its height controlled vast territories across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, split into the Western Roman Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantium) in 285 AD under Emperor Diocletian. This division was formalized in 395 AD when Emperor Theodosius I divided the empire between his two sons. The Western Roman Empire, centered in Rome, fell in 476 AD, while the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantium), centered in Constantinople, went on and continued to exist for another thousand years, until 1453.

Similarly, the British Empire, which at its height controlled territories across the entire globe, split into the British Empire in the East and the United States in the West. The British Empire, centered in London, saw the American colonies in North America break away to form the United States of America in 1776. While the British Empire continued to exist, expanding its territories, particularly in India, the United States emerged after WWI in 1919 and WWII in 1945 as the dominate English-speaking, culturally, financially and legally Anglo successor to the British power.

Old empires decline and fall…

- Decline and Fall: Both the Roman Empire and the British Empire experienced a significant decline and eventual fall. The Roman Empire, after centuries of dominance, faced internal strife, economic issues, and external pressures, leading to its gradual collapse. Similarly, the British Empire, once the largest empire in history, began to decline post-World War II due to economic strains, the rise of nationalism in its colonies, and the costs of maintaining its vast territories.

- Territorial Loss: Both empires saw a gradual loss of territories. The Roman Empire lost significant portions of its territories to various invading groups, including the Visigoths and the Vandals. The British Empire, too, experienced a gradual reduction in its territories, with many colonies gaining independence, particularly in the mid-20th century.

- Economic Factors: Economic issues played a role in the decline of both empires. The Roman Empire faced economic challenges, including inflation, increased taxation, and a decline in trade. Similarly, the British Empire faced economic challenges post-World War II, with the costs of maintaining its empire becoming increasingly unsustainable.

- Military Overstretch: Both empires were stretched militarily, which contributed to their decline. The Roman Empire had to maintain a large army to defend its vast territories, which became increasingly difficult and costly. The British Empire, too, faced challenges in maintaining its military presence across its empire, especially during the two world wars.

- Cultural and Political Changes: Both empires saw significant cultural and political changes that contributed to their decline. The Roman Empire saw a shift in religious beliefs with the rise of Christianity, which had a profound impact on its politics and society. The British Empire, too, saw changes in its political and cultural landscape, with the rise of nationalism in its colonies and changing attitudes towards imperialism.

Both the Byzantine Empire and the United States were able to adapt and survive despite the decline of their parent empires. The Byzantine Empire adopted Christianity and developed a sophisticated administrative system, while the United States embraced democratic principles and became a leader in technology and innovation. Both entities maintained cultural and institutional continuity with their predecessors, but also developed distinct identities and policies.

New empires emerge during collapse to rise from the fall…

- Political Independence: The United States declared its independence from the British Empire in 1776, following the American Revolutionary War. This marked the beginning of the United States as a sovereign nation, much like the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantium) became a distinct political entity during the collapse of the Western Roman Empire.

- Economic Growth: The United States experienced significant economic growth in the 19th and 20th centuries, becoming a global economic powerhouse. This is similar to how the Byzantine Empire, despite its reduced territory, maintained a strong economy and trade network, particularly in the Eastern Mediterranean.

- Military Power: The United States emerged as a major military power in the 20th century, particularly after World War II. This is comparable to the Byzantine Empire's military strength, which allowed it to defend its territories and influence regional politics.

- Cultural Influence: The United States has significantly expanded British cultural influence globally, with its unique adaptations, particularly through its popular culture, technology, and political ideals. Similarly, the Byzantine Empire, with its own unique adaptation of Roman culture was a center of culture and learning, influencing the development of art, architecture, and religious practices in the Eastern Mediterranean.

- Global Leadership: The United States played a leading role in international affairs in the 20th and 21st centuries, particularly in the areas of diplomacy, trade, and security. This is comparable to the Byzantine Empire's role as a major power in the Eastern Mediterranean, influencing regional politics and serving as a buffer between the Islamic world and the Christian West until its fall to the Ottomans.

It was 191 years between the founding of the two centers of power in the Roman Empire, before the fall of Rome itself and the Western Roman Empire. It’s been 169 years since the separation of the British Empire into two centers of power, that in London and that in Washington D.C. After nearly a century in decline, we do seem to be poised for the final fall of the Eastern British Empire. It is yet to be seen however, if the Western British Empire can and will emerge finally independent and whole as the successor will go on for another thousand years.

If it does not, if the United States cannot survive the current crisis intact. If both the Eastern and Western British Empires are to, after more than a thousand years of rising, finally fall. What would that look like? What historical references should we look to?

- The Western Roman Empire was divided into several successor states after its fall in 476 AD. These included the Kingdom of Italy under the rule of Odoacer, the Visigothic Kingdom in Hispania, the Kingdom of the Suebi in northwestern Iberia, the Vandal Kingdom in North Africa, and the Kingdom of the Burgundians in southeastern Gaul.

- After the death of Charlemagne in 814 AD, his empire was divided according to the Treaty of Verdun in 843 into three parts: Louis the German received the eastern portion, which would eventually become the Kingdom of Germany; Charles the Bald received the western portion, which would eventually become the Kingdom of France; Lothair I received the central portion, which included the area around Rome and was called the Middle Kingdom or Lotharingia.

- The Partition of the Mongol Empire: Following the death of Genghis Khan in 1227, his empire was divided among his sons and grandsons. This led to the formation of several independent Mongol states, including the Golden Horde in the northwest, the Chagatai Khanate in Central Asia, the Ilkhanate in Persia, and the Yuan Dynasty in China.

- The Division of Alexander the Great's Empire: Upon Alexander's death in 323 BC, his vast empire was divided among his generals, known as the Diadochi. This led to the formation of several Hellenistic kingdoms, including the Ptolemaic Kingdom in Egypt, the Seleucid Empire in the Middle East, and the Antigonid Kingdom in Macedonia.

- The Breakup of the Soviet Union: The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 led to the emergence of 15 independent states, including Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. This event marked the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the world's largest socialist state.

- The Partition of India: In 1947, British India was partitioned into two independent states, India and Pakistan. This division was based on religious lines, with India becoming a Hindu-majority state and Pakistan a Muslim-majority state. The partition led to widespread violence and displacement, with millions of people migrating between the two countries.

- The Breakup of Yugoslavia: Following the death of Josip Broz Tito in 1980, the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia began to disintegrate. By 1992, the country had split into several independent states, including Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, and Macedonia. The breakup of Yugoslavia was marked by a series of ethnic conflicts and wars.

At this time, we can’t know if the United States will survive or perish. There’s a very real and very destructive and deadly fight waging all around us, everywhere and in all things over this very point. Whether the United States continues as a thrall to or independent of the old Empire, in the hands of the People and the Princes or those of tyrannical government, or whether it’s torn asunder. If it does go on to prevail, to survive intact, independent of the old Empire, in the hands of the Princes and the People and not tyrannical government. Then I believe solidly that the US goes on for another five hundred to a thousand years and sees itself flourish in ways never yet witnessed on this continent.

Buckle up! There’s far more at stake here than is obvious.

Regardless what comes. In order to survive what is upon us. We must all remember, who and what we are. We're descendants of the Roman and the British Empires. And we need to start acting like it once more!!!