It is a common opinion that the Roman empire underwent a brutal invasion in the West, which caused the decline of the classical culture of Rome. However, recent studies suggest that the barbarians were merely accommodated into the Roman empire and started serving as its defenders. As a result, it is believed that the Roman culture was transformed into a new shape but not destroyed. Rome made numerous concessions to Christianity despite many people being opposed to it. In 394, there was a battle between the emperor Theodosius and the Gallic usurper Eugenius, which Christians considered as the confirmation of their faith’s victory. At that period, the church’s integration into Roman society was profound. Over the course of time, Christianity had turned into a way of expressing both practice and ideology. Christians’ acceptance of the classical Roman culture could be largely traced in architecture, with many cathedrals being built in accordance with the Roman style.
The process of accommodation lasted for many years, which led to a considerable economic breakdown. The outcomes of such a decline were dramatic, leading to extensive losses in the cultural dimension. Principal roads and architectural monuments were destroyed due to the impossibility to take care of them. At the same time, the development of Christianity played a positive role in the sustaining of urban life in Rome. Communities used to gather around cathedrals, thus forming new towns. One of the most prominent achievements of the cooperation between the western and eastern empires was the Law Code established in 438. The implementation of Roman law presupposed the state’s accountability for justice and the protection of personal rights.