The End of Empire

On a whim, I recntly picked up The End of Empire by Christopher Kelly (Amazon link) at the library . It tells the story of the Huns in Europe with a focus on their interactions with the Roman Empire and their contribution to its fall. Fascinating stuff that I either missed in school or had forgotten completely.

(Aside: Support your public library. The only reason I picked up the book is because it was free to borrow, and as a result, I am better educated than I was. If you haven't visited lately, go. Get a random book or one you've had your eye on. You'll be glad you did.)

The history was interesting, and there were a couple lessons that are easily applied today.

1. Barbarians are rarely barbaric. They are usually different, and may appear barbaric to outsiders. Do not be fooled, though. When someone looks or acts differently than you do, a quick assessment of equivalence between appearance and intelligence is an easy route to disaster, for an empire or an individual.
   
2. Buying off a blackmailer is a good way to make the blackmailer rich while doing nothing to lessen the threat to your own security.
3. Good politics today can destroy the state tomorrow. Keep the big picture in mind. 
4. Excessive drink is a bad idea. Do you really want to risk being known for drowning in your own blood from a nosebleed experienced while passed-out drunk? Not the death a noble warrior king like Attila would have hoped for, I suppose.