The Roman Empire was born almost 3000 years ago in central Italy. 800 years after its founding it encompassed the entire known world & lasted just over 1000 years. However, the empire didn't so much fall, but slowly evolved into a new European culture. Did the superpower of the ancient world simply collapse on account of its size? Was it the power struggles of rival contenders for the throne, economic crises, epidemics such as malaria and the effects of climate change that brought about the fall of Rome?