Thus Campania experienced a period of prosperity with the construction of waterworks, leading to the establishing of Capua and Brindisi. However, this brief period of prosperity was superseded by economic decline as products from Africa and Spain became popular and Campania fell into economic decline. Falling prey to famine and pestilence as well as economic difficulty left it vulnerable to waves of invasion by the Goths, Vandals and Byzantines. The latter lost all but the naval bases of Gaeta, Naples and Sorrento to the subsequent arrival of the Lombards. The Ninth Century brought the Saracens into Campania and the Lombards to heel leaving them only Amalfi and the status of a maritime presence and power. The eleventh century saw the arrival and eventual take over of the Normans, who by infiltration achieved status and domination during the course of almost a century, and bought peace, architectural restoration and renewed prosperity to Campania.
