ROME: its empire extended over most of the known world for five hundred years. Its strength and success were unparalleled. Its influence upon the modern world remains profound. So why did this superpower - one that had no serious rival - crumble? Goldsworthy charts four hundred years of tumultuous and world-changing history, a period of remarkable personalities and revolutionary ideas. He vividly brings to life the fascinating story of the long, slow and violent death of a state that rotted from within - victim to the ambition and personal agendas of its rulers.