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Historian: The rapid collapse of the Vandal kingdom during the Byzantine invasion of 533 CE was primarily caused by internal economic decay rather than Byzantine military superiority. Archaeological evidence from the Vandal capital reveals a sharp decline in both the construction of monumental public works and the minting of high-denomination gold coins during the three decades preceding the invasion. This clear lack of state wealth rendered the Vandals unable to mount a sustained defense.

Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the historian's argument? (Select all that apply)

  1. During the decades preceding the invasion, the Vandal state systematically redirected its revenues from urban monuments toward heavily fortifying its border settlements and expanding its mercenary armies.Answer
  2. In the early sixth century, the Vandal economy transitioned to a highly prosperous, localized barter-based agricultural system that generated immense surpluses but required no high-denomination currency.Answer
  3. C
    The sudden cessation of gold imports from sub-Saharan trade routes caused a widespread financial panic that severely crippled the Vandal merchant class shortly before the invasion.
  4. D
    The supposed decline in the minting of gold coins is an illusion; historical records confirm that gold coins were minted in large quantities but were immediately hoarded in secret caches.
  5. E
    The Byzantine military forces possessed advanced siege engines that could easily breach traditional monumental public works, rendering such structures useless in a prolonged conflict.

Answer

The correct answers are the option regarding the state redirecting its revenues toward border settlements and mercenary armies, and the option regarding the economy transitioning to a prosperous barter-based agricultural system.
The correct answers successfully weaken the argument by attacking the historian's core assumption. The historian assumes that a lack of new monuments and gold coins proves the state was poor and economically decaying. The correct options provide alternative explanations for these missing elements: one shows that state wealth was diverted to military defense rather than monuments, and the other shows that the economy was actually thriving but operating on a barter system that didn't require gold coins. Both scenarios explain the archaeological evidence while destroying the conclusion that the economy was in decay.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the argument's structure to identify the main conclusion and the premises.
The main conclusion is that internal economic decay caused the Vandal collapse. The premises are a sharp decline in public works construction and gold coin minting.
Isolating the conclusion is necessary to understand exactly what needs to be weakened.
2
Identify the logical gap or assumption bridging the premises and the conclusion.
The historian assumes that a lack of public works and gold coins definitively proves a lack of overall state wealth and an economy in decay.
To weaken the argument, one must find new information that severs this connection, showing that these absences do not necessarily mean the economy had collapsed.
3
Evaluate the options to find those that provide alternative explanations for the premises without confirming the conclusion.
The option regarding redirecting resources to armies and the option regarding a prosperous barter economy both explain the premises while demonstrating that the Vandal state still possessed wealth.
Alternative explanations that account for the evidence while contradicting the author's conclusion are the primary method for weakening causal arguments.

Key Concept

Evaluating alternative explanations in causal reasoning
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Weaken

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