Quote Originally Posted by Paul Peru
Schmrealism.
But when your barbarian faction has ahistorically conquered say all of Greece as well as Rome and Mesopotamia, never exterminating any cities - how realistic is it that you still, 100 years later, can gain no technological advances whatsoever? Historically, conquerors have often adapted technology and culture from the conquered.
You get better weapions and armour if they are more advanced than you - and you don't if they are not.

"Technological advances" in this era weer not quite like upgrading from a 105mm gun on yuor MBT's to a 120mm - you might get metal arour for a few more % of yuor richest warriors, a sword design that is a little handier, better metal reinforcements on your shields.

In practice wholesale "technological advancement" didn't happen quickly or very often - there was little to distinguish a German warrior in 100BC from 1 in 300 AD.

More often societies reacted to defeats rather than conquests - why would yuo want to change if you've beaten them? You're obviously already superior!!

Whereas if they beat you then you're doing something wrong!