The Roman Empire was one of the most impressive empires in world history. Just before the Roman Business existed, there seems to be the Roman Republic. For almost 500 years, the city of Rome was governed in an imperfect democratic system. No one man could hold too much power empire777 ฟรี300. During this time, the city of Rome conquered Italy and then expanded out to create a great empire around the Mediterranean Sea. Unfortunately, the institutions of the Republic failed as this empire was created. During the first century BC, powerful generals used their armies to become kings in all but name. They plunged Rome into a series of destructive civil wars.

The most successful of these strongmen was Augustus. In 31 BC, Augustus defeated Marc Antony and his mistress Cleopatra and became the undisputed ruler of Rome. He ruled until 14 AD. The Romans had a strong distaste for kings, so Augustus took on the title of "first citizen" and created the illusion that his power was given to him by the Roman Senate. The name of this system was the principate. Over time, the leaders of the Roman Empire would drop this facade, along with any other connection to the Republic.

The empire that Augustus ruled over was large. At its heart was Italy, which included the city of Rome. Its European territories included the, Spain and France Balkans. His successors would add The united kingdom and Hungary into the empire. The richest territories of the Roman Empire were the territories that it held in the Middle East and North Africa.

There have been larger empires in history; however, what made the Roman Empire remarkable was that it was stable for centuries. The territories under its control enjoyed an unprecedented period of peace and experienced a process of romanization. In the process of Romanization, areas that had been primitive and tribal before the coming of the Romans built cities complete with arenas, theaters and bathing. Remarkable structures called aqueducts were built that carried water into the cities of the empire. Ancient Greek culture spread and mixed widely.

The greatest legacy of the Roman Empire was Christianity. Jesus Christ lived during the reign of Augustus, and was crucified by the Romans during the reign of Augustus' successor, Tiberius. With a missionary zeal, his believers spread his message across the empire. The Empire's ports and roadways helped in this spread while periods of persecution gave the new religion martyrs. In the early fourth century, the Emperor Constantine adopted Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire.