Pre-emptive strike on Rome?

[Servius]

Is there any reason why I can't wipe out Rome and the other factions before the Senate outlaws someone?

Right now I have all of France, half of Germany, all of northern Italy, three huge navies, five huge legions. Rome has a few scattered ships and one or two pre-marian legions. The Skipy and Brute have been getting their tail handed to them by the comp.

So, I belive it is militarily easy to wipe these factions out, but will the game allow me to attack them yet? Is there any reaons why I would want to wait longer, possibly allowing the other factions to turn their tides and become more powerful before the Civil War? The way I see it, the further my empire expands, the harder it is to control, which could tie up more troops and so reduce the number I can throw against the other factions. I don't want to get so big that my legions are anchored down as garrisons in far-flung ghettos.