The 24th of August, 410AD. The magnificent city of Rome, the world's largest, is under attack and at the mercy of a barbarian leader. This empire that dominated Europe for 500 years - how did it come to collapse? The opening episode of Civilisations: Rise and Fall rewinds to Rome in 395AD as the young emperor Honorius inherits a vast but fragile empire. Decisions taken by his predecessors have opened up alarming faultlines within the system. These cracks, which are slowly weakening Rome, are enc