If one looked at OTL, what would the likelihood of a world recognizably similar to ours be? If one replayed history a thousand or so times, what is the most likely scenario to happen?
Also, on a somewhat related note, don't the Mongols and the Romans both look like extreme wanks?
I mean, imagine a tiny city state freeing itself from Estruscan dominance, defeating every single major power in Italy, annhilating their nearest rival to superpowerdom, DESPITE losing battles like Cannae, destroy the Diadochi, and then occupy all of Europe up to the Rhine and Danube, basically everything up to the Tigris and Euphrates, and then last as long as it did?
And then the Mongols. One really charismatic goat-herd manages to persuade some other lunatics to follow him, and somehow, this REALLY talented goat-herd conquers the world?