How come Italy used to be the center of the civilized world,

[maks]

a distinction without a difference, greek and roman culture had essentially become one by the time rome fell, and while i agree that east eventually became a greek medieval state, up until late antiquity and the reign of emperor heraclius it was far more roman than anything the west tried to front

strongly disagree, greek and roman cultures had their similarities but they were very different and distinct. might as well say american culture is the same as roman because some of our government buildings have columns.