Looking for a good historical overview of the Roman Empire?

Look no further than The Romans: A 2,000-Year History by Edward J. Watts. It starts off with the founding of Rome in 753 BC and ends with the sacking of Constantinople by the Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade in the year 1204. His argument for this date and not the more traditional date of 1453 (when the Ottomans conquered Constantinople) is that the Roman system of government, which had existed in a continuous line since the founding of the city that bears its name, was erased by the Crusaders when they took over the city and never really returned.

It's an interesting thesis and one which I'm currently enjoying. I'm very early into the book but I'm learning a lot that I had not previously known. For those of you who are looking for a good general history of Rome and the Roman Empire, this book is a decent place to start.