Roman Empire
“”Divide and conquer.
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The Roman Empire was a very large empire in Europe. He existed from 27 BC to 395 AD. The Roman Empire is usually considered the most important and best empire of all time. At his height, Roman Empire controlled vast territories spanning three continents: Europe, Asia, and Africa. Very impressive for an empire this old. The Empire's influence extended from the British Isles in the northwest to the deserts of the
Middle East, and from the
Rhine and
Danube rivers in the north to the shores of North Africa.
The Roman Empire is renowned for his remarkable achievements in various fields, including engineering, architecture, law, and governance. Roman engineers built an extensive network of roads, aqueducts, and monumental structures like the Colosseum and the Pantheon, many of which still stand today. The Roman legal system laid the foundation for many modern legal codes, and the concept of Roman citizenship became a unifying element for the diverse peoples within the Empire.
History
Julio-Claudian Dynasty
Main article: Julio-Claudian Dynasty
The Julio-Claudian Dynasty was the first dynasty of the Roman Empire. It composed of the first five emperors. The
Julio-Claudians started the destruction of
republican values, but on the other hand, they boosted
Rome's status as the central power in the world. While
Caligula and
Nero are usually remembered as dysfunctional emperors in popular culture,
Augustus and
Claudius are remembered as emperors who were successful in politics and the military. This dynasty instituted imperial tradition in
Rome and frustrated any attempt to reestablish a
Republic.
Augustus became the first Roman emperor in 27 BC. he created the
Praetorian Guard and annexed
Galatia. He also returned the lost standards (flags) that were lost from a battle, which was seen as very honorable. In 6 AD, a big revolt happened in the province of
Pannonia. In AD 9, the Battle of the
Teutoburg Forest resulted in a major defeat for
Rome by the
Germanics.
Tiberius reigned second, between 14 AD and 37 AD. At first, he continued the ruling style of
Augustus but later his paranoia increased and he heavily relied on
Praetorian Guards.
Caligula reigned third, he was cruel and tyrannical. He declared himself as god and spending lots of money on building giant projects and making irrational decisions. He was assassinated by a
Praetorian Guard, making his uncle
Claudius the emperor.
Claudius reigned as Roman Emperor from 41 AD to 54 AD. His rule was decent and he conquered
Britain in 43 AD. He built roads, canals, and more. But he was assassinated by his wife,
Agrippina the Younger because she wanted to ensure her son,
Nero’s success.
Nero was very evil. He burned down
Rome and blamed it on
Christians. Oh how he hated
Christians. He persecuted them relentlessly. He executed his wife, his mother, his advisor, and more. A series of revolts broke out against him and
Nero was forced into suicide, starting the
Year of the Four Emperors civil war.
Year of the Four Emperors
The Year of the Four Emperors in 69 AD followed
Nero's demise, where there was no chance of return to the old and traditional
Roman Republic, thus a new emperor had to rise. A period of civil strife and power struggles.
Galba,
Otho,
Vitellius, and
Vespasian each claimed the imperial title in rapid succession, reflecting the instability that ensued after the fall of the
Julio-Claudian Dynasty.
Vespasian ultimately emerged victorious, establishing the
Flavian Dynasty and bringing some stability back to the empire.
Flavian Dynasty
Vespasian's reign marked a return to strong and
pragmatic leadership. He initiated significant military reforms, restored the finances of the state through increased taxation and prudent fiscal management, and embarked on ambitious construction projects, including the beginning of the Colosseum's construction. His administration set the groundwork for a more stable and prosperous period in Roman history, continuing through the reigns of his sons,
Titus and
Domitian, who succeeded him. The
Flavian Dynasty thus helped to consolidate and strengthen the empire after the tumultuous events of 69 AD.
Between 66 and 74, there were the first of three major rebellions by the Jews against the Roman Empire fought in Roman-controlled
Judaea, resulting in the destruction of
Jewish towns, the displacement of its people and the appropriation of land for Roman military use, as well as the destruction of the
Jewish Temple and polity. Through these brutal tactics, the emperors of the dynasty held on to complete power and control over the Roman Empire.
Domitian, the last of the
Flavian emperors, continued this legacy of strong central authority, though his reign would also see increasing
autocracy and paranoia, leading to his assassination in 96 AD and the eventual end of the
Flavian line.
Nerva-Antonine Dynasty
More TBA
Myths About the Roman Empire
Orgies
WARNING: THIS SECTION CONTAINS MENTIONS OF NSFW CONTENT.
One reason Rome is such a popular period for TV shows and movie depictions is the opportunity for directors to augment the plot with gratuitous sex, thanks to the
loose morality for which the empire is widely renowned. The problem is, that likely wasn't the case. Sure, Roman sexuality was more liberal than the restrictive
theocracies that came after (such as the
Byzantines) and nude works were normal. But, the Romans drew a line between public and private displays of sexuality (unlike today’s
left). What happened in one's home was one thing, but even married couples avoided public displays of affection. Large gatherings of people having sex are simply not mentioned in any documented histories, apart from some works of fiction or likely exaggerated accounts of sex-crazed emperors written by critics hoping to slander their legacy. So why do many people think group sex was rampant in Rome? One explanation is mistranslation: the word "orgy" from the
Latin "orgia", wasn't explicitly associated with sex until the late 1800s. In Roman times, it commonly meant a secret nighttime
religious ceremony. With a slew of different cults trying to keep their rituals quiet, an orgia was a regular occurrence.
Add to this that the Greco-Roman god of wine and pleasure,
Dionysus (AKA Bacchus), was worshiped in Bacchanalia ceremonies that involved copious drinking, mingling of the genders and sometimes even sex, if
Livy's scandalous accounts are to be believed. The Roman historian described lots of sex, sometimes between different classes of people, which seemed to be his main objection.
Many stories of sex parties are accounts of depraved emperors written by detractors or later Christian writers trying to illustrate the moral bankruptcy of the Roman Empire. Ironically, many of these tales appear to be repeats of stories that Roman authorities used to slander
early Christians, accusing them of perverse sexual rites. So, the idea that Romans held regular sex orgies (apart from a few power-mad emperors like
Nero) is mostly fiction.
Relations
Friends
Han Dynasty - Hey! Thanks for your silks to me and thus trade with me! Best trading partner! And some of my soldiers lived in yuor clay!
Although he letXiongnu come!! I invent real noodle!! And one day I will conquer yuo
Enemies
Germanic Barbaricum - Filthy, barbaricum immigrants. How dare tu defeat me! I’ll never forget this! and yuo also steal my original latin letters
Hunnic Empire - WHAT ARE YOU MONSTERS?!
How to draw

- Draw a ball.
- Fill it with red.
- Draw two olive branches that bend into a circle. In gold.
- Write the letters “SPQR” in the circle. In gold.
- Add the eyes and you’re done!
- Add a Roman soldier helmet (optional)
- Make the helmet gold (optional)
Color Name | HEX | |
---|---|---|
Red | #9F0807 | |
Gold | #D7BC52 |