When did the Roman Empire fall (your thoughts)?

[D B Campbell]

Interesting question.

"Since the Roman state is now either dead or at the very least dying in those areas where it still seems alive." --Salvian mid fifth century.

It is curious that Salvian's younger contemporaries Augustine and Jerome clearly still believed that the empire was intact, but their vested interest was in protecting Christianity from chaos. Quando cadet Roma, cadet et mundus ("When Rome falls, so falls the universe").