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Jan 24, 2024 · published on 24 January 2024. In this gallery, we examine the evolution of the Roman Empire through 10 detailed maps. From Julius Caesar's victories to the splitting of the empire, these maps trace the geographical growth, the intricate trade network, and the spread of Christianity in one of history's most durable and influential cultures.
- Territorial Expansion of the Roman Republic (c. 260 - 30 BCE)
A map illustrating the expansion of the Roman Republic from...
- The Provinces of the Roman Empire under Augustus
Illustration. A map illustrating the expansion of the Roman...
- Territorial Expansion of the Roman Republic (c. 260 - 30 BCE)
- Overview
- Rise and consolidation of imperial Rome
Roman Empire, the ancient empire, centred on the city of Rome, that was established in 27 bce following the demise of the Roman Republic and continuing to the final eclipse of the empire of the West in the 5th century ce. A brief treatment of the Roman Empire follows. For full treatment, see ancient Rome.
A period of unrest and civil wars in the 1st century bce marked the transition of Rome from a republic to an empire. This period encompassed the career of Julius Caesar, who eventually took full power over Rome as its dictator. After his assassination in 44 bce, the triumvirate of Mark Antony, Lepidus, and Octavian, Caesar’s nephew, ruled. It was not long before Octavian went to war against Antony in northern Africa, and after his victory at Actium (31 bce) he was crowned Rome’s first emperor, Augustus. His reign, from 27 bce to 14 ce, was distinguished by stability and peace.
Augustus established a form of government known as a principate, which combined some elements from the republic with the traditional powers of a monarchy. The Senate still functioned, though Augustus, as princeps, or first citizen, remained in control of the government..
With a mind toward maintaining the structure of power entrusted to his rule, Augustus began thinking early about who should follow him. Death played havoc with his attempts to select his successor. He had no son and his nephew Marcellus, his son-in-law Agrippa, and his grandsons Gaius and Lucius each predeceased him. He eventually chose Tiberius, a scion of the ultra-aristocratic Claudia gens, and in 4 ce adopted him as his son.
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The Roman Empire
Tiberius (reigned 14–37) became the first successor in the Julio-Claudian dynasty and ruled as an able administrator but cruel tyrant. His great-nephew Caligula (37–41) reigned as an absolutist, his short reign filled with reckless spending, callous murders, and humiliation of the Senate. Claudius (41–54) centralized state finances in the imperial household, thus making rapid strides in organizing the imperial bureaucracy, but was ruthless toward the senators and equites. Nero (54–68) left administration to capable advisers for a few years but then asserted himself as a vicious despot. He brought the dynasty to its end by being the first emperor to suffer damnatio memoriae: his reign was officially stricken from the record by order of the Senate.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
The Roman Empire [a] was the post- Republican state of ancient Rome. It is generally understood to mean the period and territory ruled by the Romans following Octavian 's assumption of sole rule under the Principate in 27 BC. It included territories in Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia and was ruled by emperors.
- Semi-elective absolute monarchy (de facto)
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Nov 24, 2021 · Last updated: 24 November 2021. This page shows the Roman Empire (s) at interesting times in its 1790-year history. The 19 maps include its beginning and its end, and various territorial maxima and minima in between, roughly every hundred years. In the centuries of sustained expansion (338 BC -- 9 AD) the intervening maps are all minima, since ...
Oct 21, 2020 · Of all the myriad rulers to take command of the Roman empire, these five made their mark for a variety of reasons. Augustus (r27 BC – AD 14) Augustus (formerly known as Octavian) became Rome’s first de facto emperor after the fall of the Roman Republic and the defeat of Antony and Cleopatra at the battle of Actium. The era of Augustus laid ...
