Claims that the Roman Empire collapsed suddenly in 476 CE oversimplify a long process. Many Roman institutions — civic governance, road networks, even Latin literacy — persisted in modified form for centuries after the last western emperor. Archaeological evidence from Gaul shows continuous town settlement through the seventh century.
Which choice best describes the function of the third sentence in the text?
- A
It introduces a new theory about the Roman Empire's collapse.
- B
It restates the second sentence using different examples.
- Ccheck_circle
It provides a specific example of the institutional persistence claimed in the previous sentence.
- D
It contradicts the claim that Roman institutions persisted.
Explanation
Continuous town settlement in Gaul concretely supports "institutions persisted." A captures the example function.