empire · 27 BC – 476 AD (West)
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was one of the largest and most influential empires in history, ruling the Mediterranean world for centuries and bequeathing law, language, engineering and political ideas to Western civilization.
Key Takeaways
- The Roman Empire was among the largest and most influential empires in history.
- It bequeathed Roman law, Latin and monumental engineering to the West.
- Its first emperor was Augustus; its philosopher-emperor was Marcus Aurelius.
- Type
- Empire
- Capital
- Rome
- First emperor
- Augustus
At its height the Roman Empire encircled the Mediterranean and stretched from Britain to Mesopotamia, governing tens of millions through a sophisticated system of law, administration and military power.
The Roman Empire was one of the most powerful and enduring states in human history. Born from the Roman Republic under Augustus, it grew to encircle the entire Mediterranean and govern tens of millions.
Its legacy is everywhere in the modern West: in legal codes descended from Roman law, in the Romance languages born from Latin, and in the roads, aqueducts and domes of Roman engineering. Ruled at its height by figures such as Marcus Aurelius, the empire shaped the imperial age that followed Rome’s republican century.
Key Achievements
- Built roads, aqueducts and cities across three continents.
- Developed a legal system foundational to Western law.
- Maintained the Pax Romana across a vast, diverse realm.
Notable Figures of Roman Empire
Augustus
94Augustus was the first Roman emperor, the heir of Julius Caesar who ended a century of civil war, established the Roman Empire, and inaugurated the Pax Romana.
Marcus Aurelius
90Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher, the last of the "Five Good Emperors", whose private journal, the Meditations, is the most cherished work of Stoic thought.
Augustine of Hippo
92Augustine of Hippo was a Roman North African theologian and philosopher whose works, including Confessions and City of God, shaped Western Christianity and laid intellectual foundations for medieval and modern thought.
Augustus
94Augustus was the first Roman emperor, the heir of Julius Caesar who ended a century of civil war, established the Roman Empire, and inaugurated the Pax Romana.
Marcus Aurelius
90Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher, the last of the "Five Good Emperors", whose private journal, the Meditations, is the most cherished work of Stoic thought.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big was the Roman Empire?
At its height under Trajan, the Roman Empire stretched from Britain and Spain to Egypt and Mesopotamia, ruling an estimated 50–60 million people.