Definition of Roman Empire

Known as one of the most important and powerful empires of antiquity, the Roman Empire can be described as a phenomenal structure of political, economic and cultural which would encompass one of the largest territories in history and would last for more than four centuries as such until its fall in 476 AD. C.

The formation of the Roman Empire can be found in different phenomena that were gradually occurring in the history of Rome. First of all, the increasingly fabulous expansion that the republic Roman looking for new shopping centers. This expansion allowed the Roman governors to neutralize more and more enemies. On the other hand, civil wars for the control of power in Rome itself would end up causing the need to establish rulers who could concentrate power in their person and calm the disorder widespread.

As a result of these wars, the concentration of power would quickly become an option more and more used by Roman politicians, among whom Julius Caesar and his adopted son, Octavian, would highlight clearly. When the latter defeated the coup attempts carried out by Marco Antonio with the help of the Egyptian empress Cleopatra, the Senate and the Roman people would crown him as the first emperor of Rome, with the full exercise of political, religious, military, economic and civilians. Octavio would change his name to Augusto and thus begin the first

government imperial. This government would be known as the Peace Romana when Augustus succeeded in pacifying the territories and establishing an important economic well-being.

The trajectory of the Roman Empire would change, of course, over the next four centuries. After Augustus, who died in AD 14. C., the Julio Claudia, Flavia, Antonina and Severiana dynasties would continue to form what would become known as the High Roman Empire. A severe crisis would continue to this period politics and economic in the third century that would culminate with the establishment of the Lower Roman Empire with emperors who would show clear signs of weakening and who would be ultimately responsible for the fall of the Empire under the drowning generated by the barbarians.

The importance of the Roman Empire cannot only be recognized at the political or military level, but must be included especially the economic and cultural aspects since these contributed greatly to the Roman supremacy throughout so long. In this sense, the conquest of almost all of the territories surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, as well as the most of Western Europe, Turkey and the Middle East, would allow Rome to establish a solid and oiled system of Commerce that would place it as the undisputed economic power of the moment. At the same time, his attitude tolerance and assimilation to different cultures, but also imposition of Roman values ​​would be the reasons for its cultural predominance throughout its entirety. territory.

Themes in Roman Empire