Along with helping explain the reasoning for the rise and fall of an empire

Along with helping explain the reasoning for the rise and fall of an empire, the Conrad Demarest model also gives criteria for what makes and empire effective. An effective empire is one that, once it is formed, gains economic rewards, has a population increase, and remains stable and prosperous. For an empire to last past the initial peak however, there must be a change in the ideology that helped formed the empire. While the Roman Empire did achieve a prosperous time with many economic rewards, the empire could have been more effective and lasted longer by changing their ideology.
As Rome became an empire, the economy shifted focus from farming to trade. Trade routes extended farther than ever before, due to the vast reach of the empire. Rome had control the of trade routes and resources, so they gained much profit. While agriculture was still important, buying foreign goods began to be more popular as they became easier to get. Population increased as well, since conquered people could become citizens of rome, instead of just becoming slaves like they used to. More lower-class people could get nicer jobs, since hiring was now based off of skill instead of social class. Construction projects began, opening up more jobs and improving areas. Aqueducts and roads were created, along with temples for the Roman gods. However, there would eventually be an economic decline as the empire began to fall.
Rome fell for a multitude of reasons, one of which is that Rome did not change its ideology until it was too late. Romans were very patriotic and imperialist, and eventually spread the empire too far to maintain control. One of the emperors, Diocletian, split the empire in two and ruled with a co-emperor, and eventually the two halves became entirely different empires. Another emperor, Constantine, tried to adopt Christianity to unite the empire, but that only resulted in dividing the empire more since the people considered loyalty to God more important than loyalty to the emperor. Emperors also became less stable because everyone unknowingly had lead poisoning. These reasons are evidence on why Rome could have been more effective, but considering the economic prosperity they gained, the empire definitely could have been worse.