no......not solely from that. de-based currency. high cost of foreign military diplomacy. loss of small, independent farmers, a period of global warming and disruption.........................
12 global deep-water naval ports
Rome...check, Britain...check, USA....check
700 over-seas military bases
*repeat above*
that shit is expensive, and it forces the Empire to apply more coercion upon the people of the Empire, to pay for it. it then must curtail their right to protest the shearing. the Empire dies from within, until Italians are shouting "benevito!!!"
to Ostrogoths. please. don't step into the "History of Empires" ring with Joe Louis.