Romans were not innovative- they did one thing and stuck to it, which was why the empire ultimately fell apart. If Carthage had won the Second Punic War, then finished off
Rome in the Third, they could have done for Africa what Rome did for Europe in terms of linguistic roots, civilization, and religion. Africa could have turned into the colonial power with Europe still barbarous like the real Africa. They could have crossed the Atlantic, settled America, and started a triangle trade with the slave point in Europe. Disturbing, eh? Also- I apologize to anyone who I may offend- with Jesus out of the picture, the Church wouldn't have held back progress for 1000 years in the name of God and innovation could have continued in a linear manner right through the dark ages. Although without Christian morality, organized society could have collapsed. There's something to imagine- nuclear war in 1500 AD. But assuming that did not happen, purely mathematically, that would mean we would today have technology that will be developed in 3000 AD(ever read
3001 by Arthur C. Clarke?). Also, would Judiasm or Islam have come to dominate Europe in the same way? Or, going even further back, I once read an alternate history short story titled
Eutopia, by Paul Anderson. Give it a look.
I seem to have raised more questions than answers
.