[contingencies]

I'm no expert on European history but I do think your example of Italy in such a period, despite the stupendous romance of the western art world for its painterly accomplishments, should probably be viewed as only one pre-modern human situation. Still earlier on and in proximity I think you would find more interesting situations, for example all of the great steppe metalwork (gold, etc.) preserved from the Slavic lands eastwards, bronze work from the eastern Mediterranean, the great art of Central Asia, Iran and India, Tang China, the Zomian region, etc. These places show not only metal work but textiles, architecture and utilitarian objects of beauty that in many cases strongly suggests a common wealth that truly permeated societies.

Re: end of empire energy failure - yeah, I agree a doomsday situation is far-fetched (but don't tell the deep Americans digging bunkers and stocking up on ammo! We may need them yet! ;). Serious systemic reform, on the other hand, is but a certainty... purely a matter of time.

(PS. I love threads like this!)