The author discusses how the Roman Empire--an empire without a serious rival--rotted from within, its rulers and institutions putting short-term ambition and personal survival over the wider good of the state.

Also published: London : Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2009, with title: The fall of the west : the slow death of the Roman superpower. Includes maps of: Roman Empire in the Late Second Century A.D.; Eastern Frontier; Third Century Crisis; Fourth Century Empire; Julian's Persian Expedition; Empire of Valentinian and Valens; Gothic War; Alaric's Movements, Including the Sack of Rome; Initial Barbarian Invasions in the Fifth Century; Balkan Frontier; Saxon Shore Forts; Barbarian Kingdoms in Gaul; Europe and North Africa in the Early Sixth Century; Justinian's Empire, Showing the Western Conquests.

Pt. 1. Crisis? The third century. The kingdom of gold -- The secret of empire -- Imperial women -- King of kings -- Barbarians -- The queen and the 'necessary' emperor -- Crisis -- pt. 2. Recovery? The fourth century. The four--Diocletian and the tetrarchy -- The Christian -- Rivals -- Enemies -- The pagan -- Goths -- East and west -- pt. 3. Fall? The fifth and sixth centuries. Barbarians and Romans : generals and rebels -- The sister and the eternal city -- The Hun -- Sunset on an outpost of empire -- Emperors, kings, and warlords -- West and east -- Rise and fall.