15. The Decline of Urban Amenities
Once-vibrant Roman cities boasted public baths, theaters, and forums—symbols of urban sophistication. After the fall, these amenities fell into neglect as city budgets shrank and skilled labor vanished. Without resources for maintenance, many public spaces closed or decayed, further diminishing urban life. ThoughtCo notes that this decline contributed to the fading of Roman cultural identity and the bleakness of the early medieval cityscape.
