As a world superpower for centuries, the sheer size and scope of Ancient Rome is astonishing. The Roman Empire was vast, with its borders stretching more than 3.8 million square kilometers, growing to be one of the largest empires of its time. Before becoming the world superpower it is known as to this day, Rome was first established as a small city-state in the seventh century BC.
In the fourth century AD, Rome’s territory immensely increased due to effortless conquests by its army. The varying geography of its territories impacted the Roman army’s approach to expansion, with its physical proximity to Egypt, Germany, and the Mediterranean Sea allowing them access to many wide-ranging battlefields. These conquests large cities, as well as resource-rich lands, to its cause.
One of the eminent features of the Ancient Roman Empire was its vast and advanced infrastructure networks, connecting its provinces and connecting them with the Roman’s capital. It was efficient enough to facilitate the long distance movement of the Roman military and the quick delivery of goods. This enabled the Ancient Romans to spread their culture, institutions and laws through their vast network of roads.
The impressive Roman engineering works during antiquity was far from limited to its network of roads. Large masonry structures were constructed such as aqueducts, Roman cruise ships and the Colossus of Rhodes, an egoistic stature of Helios that towered 33 feet tall. Roman architecture reached unprecedented heights of complexity and magnitude, such as the Pantheon, Colosseum and other iconic monuments embedded in popular culture. The advanced Roman engineering feats that remain today, such as bridges, and roads, floor mosaics, public bathhouses and public sewers prove the feat of immense size and complexity of the Ancient Roman Empire.
The citizens of Ancient Rome lived under the rule of a monarch, as well as the influence of the Senate and the Roman Forum, an important governmental institution. The Forum stood as a trading hub in Rome, and it was integral in Roman politics and religion, as evidence by it’s selection as the burial sight of Julius Ceaser and Augustus and other prominent Roman figures. Together with the Capitoline Hill and Palatine Hill, these communities formed the center piece of Ancient Roman life.
Geographical Expansion
Despite its significant economic and military power, the geographical expansion of the Roman Empire was far from perfect. Many territories that Rome was able to conquer would rebuff its attempts, requiring multiple campaigns to secure. One example is the Parthian Empire, initially conquered by Trajan in Armenia in the early 2nd century AD. Although the Roman expeditionary force initially triumphed and alledgedly captured the standard of the Parthian, it was eventually forced to withdraw, hence failing to push its expansion further eastward.
The size of the Roman Empire was also hindered by some geographical barriers. The Alps, for one, marked an obstacle for Roman conquests, as the Romans found it difficult to penetrate the mountain range and its lands further north. On the other side of the Mediterranean, Egypt was largely spared from Roman expansion since it was a power source of grain and supplies, opting for instead a vassal-like pact with Egypt.
Impact of Expansion on Society
The vast influence of the Ancient Roman Empire had a large ,which in turn opened many avenues for expansion into more remote territories prone to resistance. As a result, the Ancient Roman Empire became host to a cultural mix caused by its expansive grasp. Consequently, citizens of the Roman Empire started to adopt religious beliefs, customs, and architecture from its conquered peoples, giving a unique twist to the customs and culture of the Roman world. This mix spurned the development of a hybrid culture, with an impressive range of traditional Roman customs as well as as variations from its provinces.
Due to the extent of the Roman’s influence throughout the Mediterranean, it adopted languages and cultural influences from its vast reach, seeing the spread of Latin and the Roman alphabet as far as Africa. Roman literature and art were deeply shaped by its conquests and were heavily reliant on Hellenistic influences, as seen in Virgil’s ‘The Aeneid’, which is inspired by Homer’s ‘Odyssey’ and pays homage to Horace’s ‘Metamorphoses’.
The reach of the Roman Empire was also seen in its legal system, the most heavily based on its renowned Roman law. This code of laws was employed to create a sense of uniformity in the empire, and even after the fall of the empire, its legal system lived on and is still seen in law today.
Decline
As with most other historical empires, the Roman Empire was eventually undermined by its own internal mismanagement and political divisions, leading to its demise. It was besieged by multiple invasions, such as the Huns, the Goths and the Vandals. Moreover, its vast borders posed significant economic and military problems, as the costs of administering and protecting its lands. This eventually led to the ultimate decline of the Roman Empire in 476AD.
A source of contention in modern times, the previous size and influence of the Ancient Roman Empire is viewed with a sense of admiration and respect, as its ineffable size and power provided the bedrock for modern civilisation. Its legacy, from its architecture marvels to its law systems, would go on to shape the future for centuries to come.
Cultural Significance
The culture of the Roman Empire was equally as impressive as its territorial expansion. The diverse influences from multiple conquered civilisations of the east and the west provided a unique culture exclusive to the city. This varying culture is contemporary in modern-day Rome, with the surviving monuments being testament to the city’s illustrious past.
In the 2000s, Rome was the capital of the Papal States and it was the focal point of the growing Christian faith. It was the pope that was responsible for the naming of early European kingdoms, such as the Holy Roman Empire, and his devotion to the city helped create the many monuments of beauty we still see today.
Other iconic Roman landmarks also stand testament to the Roman culture and its size of both regional and international scope. The Colosseum, erected in 72AD, was the largest news amphitheatre of its time and it held over 50,000 spectators, who thronged to it all throughout the years to experience the gladiatorial combat, held for their entertainment.
Another iconic cultural landmark is the Roman Forum, a large public square that steaming with activity during 200BC. This forum was a place of meetings, festivals, ceremonies and even a place of art. It is one of the most well-known features of ancient Rome and can still be visited in person today.
Lasting Legacy
The influential reign of the Roman Empire is still recognised and respected today, 2000 years after its peak. Moving further beyond its territorial boundaries, the influence of Roman culture has become embedded in modern civilisation. This is evident in the continued use of Latin in the English language and in English grammar. Moreover, Roman numerals continue to be used to denote various organisational and commercial aspects, both in the UK and US.
The impact of Roman culture has also been felt in other areas, such as architecture and artwork. Not only are its most renowned architectural monuments still in existence today, but they were also as inspiration to generations of architects and engineers that followed. Perhaps the most famous example is Bramante’s design of St. Peters Basilica in Rome, a feat of cathedral building which draws heavily from the Pantheon and the Renaissance period of artistry.
Finally, the legacy of the Roman Empire is respected by its lasting effects in the field of law. The early foundations of international law, used today in almost all organisations, has itsbase in the Roman legal system. This is particularly true in the field of contract law and contracts of individuals, which is based on the legal principles of the ‘ius civile’ or the Roman civil law.
Economic Flourishing
The sheer size of the Roman Empire can also be seen in its abilities to both support and power its operations. Its resources were widespread, largely due to its vast population and its control of the Mediterranean Sea. This control allowed smooth trade of goods with the middle east and Africa and it saw an impressive diversification of industries, from stone masonry to ship building,olive oil production, butchery and many more.
TheRoman currency ruled the Mediterranean for centuries and its solid silver coins acted as a valuable currency to other people in the empire, given its ferocity and durability. This is seen in the present, as ancient coins are still found and used as souvenirs and decorations. Furthermore, with its control over Egypt, the Roman Empire was able to finance its operations evenly, enabling it to court close relationships with multiple areas of the ancient middle east.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, it’s monetary system developed and adopted many international currencies. While Ancient Roman currency is no longer used, it remains a testament to the enormous economic control of the Roman Empire.
Conclusion
The sheer size and scope of the Ancient Roman Empire is remarkable, and its base of operations allowed it to expand further into yet untouched territories. Its widespread network of roads and powerful navy allowed it to become one of the world’s first superpowers and its influence still remains in aspects of art, architecture, law and culture. Although much of the territory controlled by the Roman Empire has since been lost or changed, the significance of its presence has not diminished and will remain an important part of our history.
