Marcus Aurelius was the last of four good and wise Roman emperors. After him Commodus inherited the throne, followed by three other emperors in less than a year. This strife was one that the Roman Empire never really recovered from. So, what do you think would happen if his son was more like himself, or at least humane, rational and sane? I believe that around 200 BC, the Empire was pretty much still at the height of its power. Do you think that the Romans could have lasted until medieval times? Crazy emperors really damaged the empire more than invaders, and the conversion to Christianity was simply the last nail in the coffin. Marcus Aurelius had a fairly "Buddhist" and balanced world view, so if his successors moved in that direction, I believe Rome would thrive for quite a while longer.