The book of the German author Wilhelm Wegner covers the history of ancient Rome from its foundation (753 BC) to the fall of the Western Roman Empire (476 AD). The second volume of the book describes the outbreaks of the civil war in Rome, when the armies and its leaders began to play an increasing role in the socio-political life of the country (L.K. Sulla, G. Mary, G. Pompey, etc.). In 49-45. Caesar became the unlimited ruler of the state, then a new period of civil war ended with the victory of Octavian, when Rome became an empire. In the II century. the empire reached its maximum borders, but the uprisings of the local population in the conquered lands, combined with the invasion of the barbarians, led to the division of the empire into Eastern and Western. The reader will be interested in the interweaving of factual material with legends and myths, as well as numerous illustrations.