Section I. Great Caesar's ghost. A succession of strongmen: Rome from Gaius Marius to Caesar 107-44 BC -- A time of turmoil: Octavian and Antony 44-30 BC -- Foundation of the empire: the house of Augustus 29 BC -- AD 14 -- Eccentric stability: emperors from Tiberius to Nero AD 14-68 -- Section II. Caesars and their subjects. New dynasties: from the Flavians to the Antonines AD 68-180 -- Running the empire: emperors and administrators AD 68-180 -- Civic pride: Caesars and their cities AD 68-180 -- The imperial melting pot: Roman culture AD 68-180 -- Section III. Reinventing causer. The slippery slope: the beginnings of Rome's decline AD 180-211 -- Inadequates and misfits: emperors of the early third century AD 211-238 -- Anarchy and disorder: the crisis of the third century AD 239-270 -- Steadying the ship of state: restoration of the imperial office AD 270-305 -- Beginnings of the Christian empire: the reign of Constantine AD 305-337 -- Section IV. Losing Caesar. Carving up the empire: from Constantine's sons to Valens AD 337-375 -- Enemies at the gate: the barbarian invasions AD 376-411 -- Final decline and fall: the collapse of the western empire AD 411-476 -- Epilogue: Dido's revenge.