Describe the rise and decline of the Roman Empire.

During the early republic, the Roman state grew exponentially in both size and power. Rome's complex political institutions, however, began to crumble under the weight of the growing empire, ushering in an era of internal turmoil and violence. In 27 B.C., Augustus became the first—of many—emperor of Rome.

Explanation: The most straightforward theory for Western Rome's collapse pins the fall on a string of military losses sustained against outside forces. Rome had tangled with Germanic tribes for centuries, but by the 300s “barbarian” groups like the Goths had encroached beyond the Empire's borders.