regertz

I think Justinian's effort was well thought out and multilayered and if a bit shoe-string as to military support at times, had a good chance of success. The biggest problems were the plagues and the inability to win over the Goths. The attempt to get round the Gothic problem by offering Germanus with his Goth princess as co-rulers of the West was brilliant and just terrible luck that first Theodora had not gotten on with Germanus earlier and second that Germanus died en route to his new job. I think Justinian has borne an unfair share of blame for the Islamic collapse in the 600s...That was the fault of Phocas and undisciplined soldiers, perhaps some blame to go to Maurice, though I personally think Maurice had made a brilliant diplomatic move. Honestly without Carthage to provide a savior emperor and the Western reconquests to bolster the Empire and maintain its sense of divine mission, I don't think Byzantium could have held out after 602.