Ideas for a series of Novels (again)

[Epictetus]

Well, I'm not going to hide the fact that I'm a huge fan of Marcus Aurelius, but I think that this time period could be very interesting. You have a giant power that has grown mature and is somewhat world-weary. After long periods of peace and prosperity there is once again a real threat of external danger, shattering complacency. The great plague sweeps through, furthering shaking what many had believed was a stable, predictable world. One of the heros of the eastern wars rises in a (perhaps mistaken) revolt against a loved leader. Citizens have become jaded against traditional religion and have turned to new eastern cults and Christianity to find meaning in an otherwise meaningless existence. And, of course, there are many opportunities for swashbuckling adventure.

I think you could do a lot with this time frame.