Roman empire
Roman empireThe period when the Roman state and its overseas provinces were under the rule of an emperor, from the time of Augustus ( 27 BC ) until 476 AD . The Roman empire was divided in 375 AD by Emperor Theodosius into the Western and Eastern empires. The term is often used to refer to all Roman territories during both the republic and the empire.
The city of Rome gradually gained power from the time of the Tarquins (6th century bc), subduing the Etruscans, Sabines, Samnites, and Greek settlers, and by the mid-3rd century bc, controlled Italy. It came into conflict with Carthage in the western Mediterranean and with the Hellenistic world in the east. Success in the Punic wars gave Rome its first overseas...
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