The situation of the Empire was worsened due to invasions by the Lombards in Italy and the Persians and Arab Moslems in the East. These wreaked havoc with the still strong ancient urban character of the Greco-Roman world. During the all too short period of imperial revival under Heraclius a last attempt to resolve the Monophysite Heresy, that developing Monothelitism, was made. Taken from the series: Dr. John Rao, "From Augustine and Chrysostom to the Papal-Frankish Alliance Christianity in the Early Middle Ages (395-752) - 2006 VonHildebrand Institute"