Board Thread:Timeline Discussions/@comment-4923787-20130202175501/@comment-32656-20130605103649

Most likely.

Not in "name" at all. That area being part of "Italy" is a far newer development than you think. No justification for anything.

The "theme" system remained in use in some form until it became pointless to have any longer due to territorial losses. It allowed the Empire to survive longer, overall. Not "detrimental" in the least.

No, the Pala could not have.

And India was in most ways engaged in that cycle in its own right. Look at the rise and fall of empires there.

No.