In the new book, analyzing the socio-economic and political-psychological conditions of the formation, heyday, decline and death of great empires using the example of Ancient Rome, the author, from a large-scale historical perspective, shows the reader a stunning picture of the eternal struggle between Reason and savagery, Enlightenment and ignorance, Civilization and barbarism, talks about the thorny paths of civilizers. Easily moving to modern times, A. Nikonov comments on his point of view on the “current historical moment” and offers his, as always, original and witty model of the development of Civilization. For a wide range of readers. Published in the author’s edition.