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Hitler should have waited before addressing the Soviet Union, period. In the alternative, he should not have declared war on the United States in solidarity with the Japanese, which gave FDR the excuse he was waiting for. But Hitler was a man of the BOLD STROKE, and heedless of advice...That is true enough, although I am not sure that the subject populations were generally so restive. But it is true that "real Romans" were spread thinly over the Empire, and the use of mercenaries to guard the frontiers was reasonable. In general, it is true that the Empire was too large to be practicable under prevailing technological conditions. Other large empires, like the Chinese and the Mogul, were practically ungovernable too. On the other hand, the Pax Romana was pretty beneficial, by providing infra- structure, improved administration, and increased trade. The fall of the Empire left Europe almost in ruins... |
