Roman

Roman Empire

The Roman Empire (Latin: Imperium Rōmānum; Classical Latin: [ɪmˈpɛri.ũː roːˈmaːnũː]) was the post-Roman Republic period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterized by a government headed by emperors and large territorial holdings around the Mediterranean Sea in Europe, Africa and Asia. The city of Rome, at its height (c. AD 117), was the first metropolis to reach a population of one million people.

History

The history of the Roman Empire can be divided into three distinct periods: The Period of Kings (625-510 BC), Republican Rome (510-31 BC), and Imperial Rome (31 BC – AD 476).

Period of Kings

The Roman Kingdom was the period of the ancient Roman civilization characterized by a monarchical form of government of the city of Rome and its territories.

Republican Rome

The Roman Republic was the era of classical Roman civilization, led by the Roman people, who established a system of government in which the supreme power resided in a body of senators, called the Roman Senate, and leaders that represented the Roman citizens.

Imperial Rome

The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of ancient Rome. As a polity it included large territorial holdings around the Mediterranean Sea in Europe, Northern Africa, and Western Asia ruled by emperors.

Culture

Roman culture includes its architecture, art, literature, and philosophy. The Romans developed the forms of law, government, and military strategy that remain foundational to Western civilization.

Legacy

The Roman Empire left a lasting legacy, influencing the development of art, architecture, philosophy, language, and government in the Western world.

See also

• History of Rome
• Fall of the Western Roman Empire
• Byzantine Empire