What attracts you to Late Rome?

[starman2012]

I have a rather strange question to put to you all who enjoy Late Roman history/military studies – simply put, what on earth attracts you to this period?

The gradual rise of Rome from an obscure city state c 500 BCE to a great hegemon by the second century CE, then its slow decline and fall, is a very fascinating story.

but I absolutely cannot stand Roman history post-Commodus.

It isn't so bad down to about the time of Gallus or Valerian.

To me, the entire period seems to be tainted with shades of the Medieval, both in terms of military tactics and equipment

Such as the rise of cavalry and decline of infantry? Again it wasn't so bad yet in the third century; look at the battle in 272.

as well as the general ethos pervading society. For whatever reason, I have never been able to hold more than a passing interest in the Medival world, and recognize that this feeling is behind my aversion to the Later Roman period.

Yeah, and for me the worst of it is the replacement of a rather secular worldview with christianity.