ANSWER ASAP PLEASE ILL GIVE BRAINLIEST

By the fifth century, the western Roman Empire _____ and the Byzantine Empire ______

which one matches and is correct, (WILL NOT GIVE BRAINLIEST UNLESS CORRECT)

A. was preparing to invade the East; was heavily fortified

B. was in its second golden age; was in steep decline

C. was disintegrating; was much richer and relatively stable

D. still followed the old Roman religion; was officially Christian