Decline and Fall of Rome.

One of the reasons for the success of the Roman Empire was that the Romans treated their Empire as the world. This belief formed the social cement, which kept the Empire sustained for as long as it did. The Roman's reign over most of Europe would only be temporary. After all, there were forces outside the Roman Empire, which were eating away at the Empire itself. Regardless of whether we accept the fact that Rome …

…be said with certainty -- although Rome ultimately fell in A.D. 476, its decline was a process that had been going on for centuries. It is believed that Roman strengths eventually became Roman weaknesses. Indeed they did, leaving a great empire in ruin as the world entered a new era of learning. Kreis, Steven. The Decline and Fall of Rome. The History Guide. <http://www.historyguide.org/ancient/lecture14b.html>