"The Roman Empire included territory around the Mediterranean in Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia."
Investigate one of the most powerful empires in history, its political and military structures, cultural achievements, and the legacy it left behind. Study its rulers, engineering feats, and influence on modern legal systems.
Founding of Rome: The legend of Romulus and Remus and the establishment of the city in 753 BCE.
Etruscan Influence: The influence of the Etruscan civilization on the early Roman culture.
The Roman Republic: The establishment of the Roman Republic in 509 BCE and the power dynamics within the Senate.
Punic Wars: The three wars fought between Rome and Carthage, which ultimately led to the rise of Rome as a dominant power.
Julius Caesar: The life and reign of Julius Caesar, including his conquests and assassination.
Augustus Caesar: The rise of Augustus as the first Roman emperor and the beginning of the Roman Empire.
Pax Romana: A period of relative peace and stability within the Roman Empire that lasted from 27 BCE to 180 CE.
Roman Law: The development of Roman legal systems and judiciary, including the Twelve Tables and the Roman legal system’s influence on modern law.
Roman Army: The development of the Roman army and its tactics, including gladiators, legions, and auxiliary troops.
Roman Architecture: The development of various architectural styles within the Roman Empire, including the Colosseum, aqueducts, and the Pantheon.
Roman Mythology: The religious beliefs and practices of Ancient Romans, including the pantheon of gods and goddesses.
Society and Class: The Roman social hierarchy, including the nobility, plebeians, and slaves.
Roman Economy: The economic systems and practices within the Roman Empire, including trade and agriculture.
Roman Migration: The movement of people within the Roman Empire, including the movement of barbarian tribes and the impact on Roman society.
Decline and Fall: The factors that led to the collapse of the Roman Empire, including internal strife, invasions, and economic issues.
Roman Kingdom: The period from the founding of Rome in 753 BCE to the overthrow of the last king in 509 BCE.
Roman Republic: The period from the overthrow of the Roman Kingdom to the establishment of the Roman Empire in 27 BCE.
Roman Empire: The period from the establishment of the Roman Empire in 27 BCE to the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 CE.
Principate: The early period of the Roman Empire, when Augustus was the emperor and Rome was ruled as a monarchy disguised as a republic.
Dominate: The latter period of the Roman Empire, when the emperor held absolute power and used a centralized bureaucracy to govern the empire.
Crisis of the Third Century: A period of instability and civil war that lasted from 235 to 284 CE, during which the Roman Empire faced numerous military, economic, and social challenges.
Tetrarchy: A system of government established by Emperor Diocletian in 293 CE, which divided the empire into four regions and appointed two emperors and two caesars to rule each region.
Late Roman Empire: The period from the end of the Crisis of the Third Century to the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 CE, characterized by economic decline, military weakness, and the gradual transition to a medieval world.
"The adoption of Christianity as the state church in 380..."
"...the fall of the Western Roman Empire conventionally marks the end of classical antiquity and the beginning of the Middle Ages."
"Rome became severely destabilized in civil wars and political conflicts..."
"...the victory of Octavian over Mark Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium in 31 BC..."
"The Roman Senate granted Octavian overarching power (imperium) and the new title of Augustus..."
"The first two centuries of the Empire saw a period of unprecedented stability and prosperity known as the Pax Romana..."
"...a period of increasing trouble and decline began under Commodus..."
"In the 3rd century, the Empire underwent a crisis that threatened its existence..."
"It was reunified under Aurelian..."
"Christians rose to power in the 4th century following the Edict of Milan."
"The imperial seat moved from Rome to Byzantium in 330."
"The Migration Period, involving large invasions by Germanic peoples and by the Huns of Attila, led to the decline of the Western Roman Empire."
"Romulus Augustus in 476 by Odoacer..."
"The Eastern Roman Empire survived for another millennium..."
"...its institutions and culture had a lasting influence on the development of language, religion, art, architecture, literature, philosophy, law, and forms of government in its territories."
"Latin evolved into the Romance languages..."
"Roman and Greek art had a profound impact on the Italian Renaissance."
"Rome's architectural tradition served as the basis for Romanesque, Renaissance, and Neoclassical architecture, and influenced Islamic architecture."
"Many modern legal systems, such as the Napoleonic Code, descend from Roman law..."