The Roman Empire's succession problem was a significant failure of Augustus, who relied on heredity for leadership, leading to a series of incompetent rulers until a shift towards selecting qualified successors emerged.

The Roman Empire thrived during a favorable climate period, but faced decline during a subsequent cooling period known as the late Roman little ice age.

Augustus, as the first emperor of Rome, established a political system that would influence countless later empires and shape global history. He oversees the transition from the Roman Republic to the Empire, setting a template that future emperors follow for the next 500 to 1500 years, as they all aspire to be like him, adopting his titles such as 'Caesar Augustus' and 'Imperator'.

The Western Roman Empire's decline in the 5th century was gradual, lacking a single defining moment of collapse.

The question of when the Roman Empire fell is complex, with various dates proposed, including 476 AD when Romulus Augustulus was deposed, but the Eastern Empire continued to exist long after.

Roman history is conventionally divided into three periods: the monarchy (753-509 BC), the Republic (509-27 BC), and the Empire (27 BC-5th century AD).

The Roman Republic lasted for 500 years, enduring significant upheaval, but eventually transformed into an authoritarian military dictatorship after internal conflicts.

The fall of the Roman Empire can be attributed to a combination of civil wars, migrations, and the inability to maintain military strength beyond its borders.

The Roman Empire's vast size made effective governance challenging, leading to slow communication and a natural fragmentation of power.