The Roman Empire: Rise and Fall

The Roman Empire was one of the most influential civilizations in world history. Beginning as a small city-state in Italy, Rome grew to dominate the Mediterranean world and beyond. At its height, the Roman Empire stretched from Britain to Egypt, from Spain to Mesopotamia. The empire brought unprecedented peace and prosperity to the regions it controlled, a period known as the Pax Romana. The Romans made significant contributions to law, government, engineering, and culture. Their system of roads connected the empire, Roman law formed the basis for many modern legal systems, and Latin became the lingua franca of Europe for centuries. However, internal conflicts, economic troubles, and pressure from external forces eventually led to the empire's division and fall. The Western Roman Empire collapsed in 476 CE, while the Eastern Roman Empire, known as the Byzantine Empire, continued for another thousand years.