The passage conveys the fragmentation and disarray of an empire that lacks fundamental unifying elements such as political cohesion, a central capital, and standardized laws or financial systems. It describes a state that operates without a cohesive identity or effective governance, suggesting that it is a remnant of a once viable ideal which has now deteriorated. Barbara W. Tuchman illustrates how this disjointed empire struggles to maintain its existence amid chaos. The absence of common officials or functionality underscores a profound decline, indicating that the greatness of the past has become an illusion, reflecting a society grappling with its historical legacy and current realities.

The passage conveys the fragmentation and disarray of an empire that lacks fundamental unifying elements such as political cohesion, a central capital, and standardized laws or financial systems. It describes a state that operates without a cohesive identity or effective governance, suggesting that it is a remnant of a once viable ideal which has now deteriorated.

Barbara W. Tuchman illustrates how this disjointed empire struggles to maintain its existence amid chaos. The absence of common officials or functionality underscores a profound decline, indicating that the greatness of the past has become an illusion, reflecting a society grappling with its historical legacy and current realities.