The Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period in Ancient Rome. It had an arbitrary government that ruled large areas around the Mediterranean, including North Africa, Asia and Europe. The previous Republic was majorly unstabilised by twelve civil wars and rebellions. Several occurrences at the end of the Roman Republic marked the end of that period. These included Julius Caesar's rise to power as ceaseless dictator, the Battle of Actium between Octavian, and Mark Antony and Cleopatra and the granting of the title "Augustus" to Octavian by the Roman Senate.
The first two centuries of the Roman Empire was known as the Pax Romana, meaning 'Roman Peace', because it was a period of peace and prosperity. The Empire was at its greatest extent during the reign of Trajan (98-117 BC). But in the 3rd Century AD, there was a major crisis threatening its existence and so the emperors, Aurelian and Diocletian restored it. In the 4th Century, Christianity rose to power where the empire was divided into the Western Roman Empire, ruled by Rome, and the Eastern Roman Empire, ruled by Constantinople. After the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD, the Eastern Empire continued and was later named as the Byzantine Empire.
Rome had a deep and lasting influence on the development of language, religion, architecture, philosophy, law and forms of government in the area it controlled, mainly Europe and Europe's sovereign states throughout the modern world.
The first two centuries of the Roman Empire was known as the Pax Romana, meaning 'Roman Peace', because it was a period of peace and prosperity. The Empire was at its greatest extent during the reign of Trajan (98-117 BC). But in the 3rd Century AD, there was a major crisis threatening its existence and so the emperors, Aurelian and Diocletian restored it. In the 4th Century, Christianity rose to power where the empire was divided into the Western Roman Empire, ruled by Rome, and the Eastern Roman Empire, ruled by Constantinople. After the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD, the Eastern Empire continued and was later named as the Byzantine Empire.
Rome had a deep and lasting influence on the development of language, religion, architecture, philosophy, law and forms of government in the area it controlled, mainly Europe and Europe's sovereign states throughout the modern world.