ABSTRACT
Indeed, the East Roman Empire grew weaker and weaker; it lost Southern Italy in the eleventh century; then it lost Asia Minor, the chief reservoir of its soldiers, sailors, and wealth. It died slowly of inanition, despite the efforts of the new government of the Commeni, under which it had a last flash of brilliance in the twelfth century. But its weakness was already manifest, and little by little it was despoiled of the superiority which the strength of its political, administrative, financial, and military institutions had hitherto bestowed upon it. Overthrown by the Latins in 1204, and restored in 1261 by the Palreologi, it dragged out a long death-agony for 200 years. It no longer possessed either administration, or money, or an army, or even that moral unity which patriotism had once given to it.
