The Roman Empire
The Roman Empire began when Augustus became emperor, and it grew to rule much of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.
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The Roman Empire began when Augustus became emperor, and it grew to rule much of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.
- Roads and aqueducts linked the empire
- Latin became widespread
- The army kept control
🧠 Quick quiz
Three questions. Score 2 or more to complete the topic.
What is The Roman Empire?
Within History, which covers ancient civilisations, empires, revolutions, world wars and the making of the modern world, this topic explains The Roman Empire. History topics connect events, people and ideas across time, so each one here gives a clear summary and a way to test your understanding.
Check that you can explain The Roman Empire in your own words and give one example from everyday life. If you can do that, you have understood the core idea.
Understanding The Roman Empire helps you explain change over time and judge why events happened, which is the core skill in history essays.
The Roman Empire in detail
After years of civil war, Augustus became the first emperor in 27 BC, beginning the Roman Empire. At its height around AD 117 under Trajan, it stretched from Britain to the Middle East and North Africa, with perhaps 60 million people. A strong professional army, good roads and a common currency and law kept control.
The Pax Romana, about two centuries of relative peace, allowed trade and prosperity. Provinces were ruled by governors, and local elites were encouraged to adopt Roman ways. Roman Britain was conquered from AD 43 and remained until about 410. The empire's legacy includes Latin, law, architecture and Christianity, which became the official religion in the 4th century.
How the interactive helps you understand The Roman Empire
Watch the timeline in the interactive. Use any sliders or buttons it offers to change the values and see how the timeline responds.
Before you change anything, predict the result. Then change one value at a time and check whether your prediction was right. This is a quick way to build a correct mental model of The Roman Empire.
Real-life uses and examples
- Build a timeline that shows when The Roman Empire happened and what came before and after.
- Judge how important The Roman Empire was by weighing evidence from more than one source.
- Explain the causes and consequences of The Roman Empire in a well-structured paragraph.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Describing events without explaining why they happened.
- Treating one source as the whole story when you study The Roman Empire.
- Learning the definition without testing it. Use the quiz and the interactive to check that you can apply the idea.
Frequently asked questions about The Roman Empire
What is The Roman Empire?
The Roman Empire began when Augustus became emperor, and it grew to rule much of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.
What are the most important points about The Roman Empire?
The main points are: Roads and aqueducts linked the empire; Latin became widespread; The army kept control.
Why is The Roman Empire useful?
Understanding The Roman Empire helps you explain change over time and judge why events happened, which is the core skill in history essays.
How can I practise The Roman Empire?
Open the interactive at the top of this page and change the controls one at a time. Predict the result before each change, then take the three-question quiz. A score of two or more marks the topic as complete on this device.
Which topics are related to The Roman Empire?
Related topics in History include The Byzantine Empire, Early Medieval Europe, The Feudal System.