|
Roman Empire
What
was the Roman Empire? Definition of the Ancient Roman Empire
What was the Roman
Empire? Definition: The Roman Empire is the term used to
refer the period in Ancient Roman history and civilisation
when when Rome and its territories were ruled by autocratic
Emperors.
What
were the territories of the Roman Empire?
At its most powerful the
territories of the Roman Empire included lands in West and
South Europe (the lands around the Mediterranean), Britain,
Asia Minor, North Africa including Egypt.
When was the Ancient Roman Empire
established? Who was the First Emperor of the Empire?
The Roman Empire was established in 27 BC when Octavian, the
adoptive son of
Julius Caesar,
was given the title 'Augustus' by the Roman Senate and
became the first emperor of Rome, known as
Augustus Caesar.
The Split of the Roman Empire
The Roman Empire
became so vast that in 285 AD the Roman Empire was
split in half by
Diocletian -
the Western Roman Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire (aka the Byzantine
Empire). Theodosius I was the last emperor of both the Eastern and
Western Roman Empire. After his death in 395 AD the two
parts of the Roman Empire were split permanently.
What reasons led to the Decline of
the Roman Empire?
The Roman Empire lasted from 27 BC - 476 AD. The Decline of
the Roman Empire was due to many reasons but in brief the
major causes of the decline were as follows:
Division between the Senate and the
Emperors. Either the Senate didn't
like the Emperor or the Emperors was
at odds with the Senate ***
Political Corruption
and the power of the Praetorian Guard ***
Constant warfare
requiring heavy military spending ***
The rapid growth of
the Empire leading to the need to defend the borders and territories
of Rome ***
The cost of
defending the Empire, the failing economics, heavy taxation and
inflation ***
The massive divide
between the rich and the poor ***
The dependency on
slave labor leading to the stagnation of any new technology to
produce goods more efficiently ***
Cheap slave labor in
turn resulted in the unemployment of the the people of Rome who
became dependent on hand-outs from the state ***
The 'Mob' needed to
be amused - games had to be provided ***
Life became cheap -
bloodshed led to more bloodshed and cruelty ***
Decline in morals
and values ***
Fierce foreign enemies
- the Barbarian armies such as the Visigoths, Huns and the Vandals ***
There were revolts,
civil wars, street fights, plagues, famines, fire and earthquakes. ***
Christianity - Life
and the future seemed hopeless for the millions who were ruled by
Rome. Christianity taught the belief in an afterlife and the
attitudes changed from being antagonistic to becoming pacifists
The
Fall of the Roman Empire
The Western Roman Empire fell after the city of Rome was
first sacked by the Visigoths in 410 and then by the Vandals
in 455. The sacking of Rome signalled the disintegration of
Roman authority and the ultimate Fall of the Roman Empire.
When did the Roman Empire
fall?
The Fall of the Roman Empire (the Western Empire) ended officially
with the abdication of
Romulus Augustus on 4
September 476. The Eastern Empire
(Byzantium) continued for nearly 1000 more years.
Roman Empire
The content of this Roman Empire
category on life in Ancient Rome provides free educational
details, facts and information for reference and research
for schools, colleges and homework. Refer to the
Colosseum Sitemap for a comprehensive search on interesting
different categories containing the history, facts and
information about Ancient Rome.
|
