What determined the collapse or survival of the successor kingdoms in the West?

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What determined the collapse or survival of the successor kingdoms in the West?

In addressing the question, I have chosen to look particularly at two kingdoms which I feel best illustrate the notions of collapse and survival: for continuity, I have chosen the Visigoths of Spain, and for collapse, I have chosen the Ostrogoths of Italy. Implicit in my analysis is the acknowledgement that the Visigothic kingdom did collapse in 711 with the arrival of the Moors, but I have chosen not to discuss that as I feel the notions of collapse are admirably illustrated by the Ostrogoths, and where further examples are required other contemporary civilisations, such as the Vandals. Beyond the battle in which the king is killed and the country officially taken, it is sometimes difficult to see exactly what had happened to the kingdom that it has ended like this, especially in the case of Ostrogothic Italy. There are usually a combination of key factors behind this collapse, most notably the structure of the state and its relationship with the church. Finally, the importance of geographic location must be considered.

At some point or other, the tribes that have been considered in this essay