Take the following as truth: The situation stabilized with Vespasian, and the second century A.D. is often considered the golden age of the empire (Gibbon himself says that the time of Marcus Aurelius--late second century--was the best time to live of all in history).
Then the following statement: "Before the start of the second century, the empire was struggling." is true, false, or inconclusive?
Answer: Inconclusive