The Roman Empire: rise and fall

In short: Rome grew from a city on the Tiber into a world power over the entire Mediterranean. The Republic was followed from 27 BC by the Empire. In AD 476 the Western Roman Empire ended.

In more detail: Rome combined military power, administration, law and road building. The Latin language became the basis of many European languages.

In detail

• Republic: Offices such as consuls, Senate and popular assembly. Conquest of Italy and Carthage (Punic Wars).
• Caesar and Augustus: Julius Caesar was murdered in 44 BC; his adopted son Augustus became the first emperor.
• Pax Romana: Two centuries of relative peace and prosperity.
• Roman law: Later shaped many European legal systems (mittelalter-lebenswelt-und-gesellschaft).
• Buildings: Colosseum, aqueducts, roads, baths. The Limes secured the border in Germania.
• Decline: Economic crises, internal power struggles and migrations of peoples; the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantium) lasted until 1453.