This study explores the role of empire in world history, addressing questions such as: what does it mean to be an empire?, how does one empire differ from another?, why does an empire rise and why fall, and why have empires flourished in some eras and regions of the world but not in others?

A fresh view of many of today's most intractable issues is also provided, from the troubles in Ulster to ethnic cleansing in the Balkans and the fate of Russian, British, German and Asian diasporas stranded by the collapse of empire.