Includes bibliographical references and index.

Prologue: Being Caesar -- 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) ; Foundations of the empire : the house of Augustus (29 BC-AD 14) ; Eccentric stability : emporers 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 Caesar. 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.