Fall of the Western Roman Empire Trivia

 I believe Russell's historical analysis was way off. Constantine's victory over Maxentius at the battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312 brought about the rise of Constantinople and the Eastern Empire that ended just about 700 years ago more or less. The west had other problems- mostly bad leaders and disintegration of the western branch as other forces rose. I am not sure that it is fair to say that the west in 622 a.d. was civilized and the Muslims, barbarians. In my opinion the savagery of the west couldn't be surpassed by the savagery of the south. The disintegration of the western Roman Empire was the fertilizer for the rise of the new western nations that were Christian leading to modern Europe.