[Rummyfan]

I wouldn't write us off yet! And the Roman Empire endured for almost five more centuries from the time of Caesar.....

[SunkenCiv]

I'll second RF, and also mention that the empire survived in the East until the 14th century. Moreover, there's no stasis. The world isn't a rock hurtling through space, it's people, and so the world changes with every birth and every death.