OUR LANDS HAVE BEEN PART OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE FOR OVER 300 YEARS, RIGHT? YEAH; WE CONTINUE ROMAN POLITICAL, MILITARY, LEGAL, AND RELIGIOUS CUSTOMS, RIGHT? YEAH; WE CALL OURSELVES THE "THE ROMANS" AND SO DO OUR ENEMIES, RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT THE SOURCES SAY; SO WE MUST BE THE ROMAN EMPIRE RIGHT? ROME FELL IN 476, YOU'RE JUST THE BYZANTINES