The Roman Empire was one of the most powerful civilizations in world history, and for its
time likely the most powerful in the world.
Its capital city was one of the first cities in history to reach a population of 1 million,
and it lasted in one form or another for over 2,000 years, with its influences still seen
around the world to this day.
So just how powerful was the Roman Empire in its hey-day?
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A few months ago, I made a video about superpowers-- again not physical superpowers but geopolitical
superpowers-- in which I highlighted the US and the rising potential influences of China
and India, and even the somewhat faded influence of Russia and Britain.
However, if I were to have made that video around 2,000 years ago, it wouldn’t have
been possible, ha-ha great observation, smartass!
Okay, if I were *talking* about the world 2,000 years ago, I would mostly be talking
about Rome (though I’d probably also be talking about Han Dynasty China, to be fair).
This is because the Roman Empire-- or as the cool kids call it, Romany-- was arguably the
most powerful pre-colonial empire by far (at least in Europe, depends on your criteria
for “powerful”), and they changed the face of Europe in such a way that is in a
sense virtually unimaginable.
So how did Rome get to be so powerful?
Well, for the first 300 or so years after the city of Rome was founded in 753 BC, Rome
was actually a tiny city-state in the middle of the Italian Peninsula.
It was essentially a Latin city-state, the same way Athens and Sparta were Greek city-states,
so this wasn’t unusual in the Mediterranean world of the time.
However, after Rome was sacked by Gallic forces in 390 BC, Rome eventually started to expand
throughout the peninsula, eventually becoming rivals with the Carthaginian Empire, who had
already set up a massive sphere of influence in the Western Mediterranean.
This would become known as the great thicc-ening of Rome (seriously, who writes this stuff?!)
Three Punic Wars later however and Rome eventually came out victorious after learning how to
actually fight at sea, allowing it to expand throughout the rest of the Mediterranean world,
conquering Gallia, Hispania, Britannia, the Balkans, Anatolia, the Levant, Egypt, Numidia,
and briefly even controlling parts of Germania, Armenia, and Mesopotamia.
By its height in 117 AD under emperor Trajan-- or Traianus-- the empire had a population
of around 70 million, over a quarter of the world‘s population at the time, and had
entered a period of peace and stability known as Pax Romana.
Although this roughly 200-year period of time— from Augustus‘ ascension to power in 27
BC to Marcus Aurelius‘ death in 180– still saw wars and rebellions, it was a period of
exceptional peace and stability throughout the empire when it was at the height of its
power.
One of the sources of Rome‘s strength and longevity were its foundations, and especially
how well it effectively standardized many aspects of law and culture across the empire.
Rome also frequently controlled a network of client states.
Often, especially during the Republic, Rome would initially incorporate foreign states
as subservient puppet states; not exactly part of Rome, but not exactly not part of
Rome.
These were usually either allied states or former enemies who were defeated in battle,
and now paid a tribute to the Roman emperor.
Even then, those territories which became provinces were still allowed to keep their
local traditions, often even combining their traditions with Roman traditions.
See?
You have Sulis, we have Minerva.
Boom!
Sulis-Minerva!
It’s almost as if you were Roman this whole time and just needed time to realize it!
So how did Rome compare with the other powers of Eurasia at the time?
Well, in 100 AD, the other powers of the world known to the Romans would have been Han Dynasty
China, the Kushan Empire, and most of all their main rival the Parthian Empire.
Rome and Persia were basically always fighting once they came within reach of each-other.
A series of conflicts that would simply be known as the Roman-Persian or Roman-Iranian
Wars started in 54 BC and was passed down to the Eastern Roman and Sassanian Empires
before finally ending in 628, around when it was conquered by the Islamic Caliphate.
These wars were always a constant drain on the resources of both empires, and the two
even frequently made alliances with many of the states caught in between the two, notably
Armenia.
Rome also had intermittent contact with China, but mostly indirectly through the Silk Road,
as Chinese silk became commonplace in Rome, as did Roman glasswork in China.
Rome also had vast influence over the Germanic tribes north of their border, mostly for trade,
but many of them even spoke Latin.
Of course, the Roman Empire couldn‘t maintain its stability forever.
Over the fourth and fifth centuries, the foundations of the Empire started to crumble due to loads
of different factors, from economic crises to poor management to the chain effects brought
on by the Huns.
The empire’s best strategy for growing economically was to grow physically, but its resources
were eventually stretched too far and too thin, especially after conquering economically-deficient
provinces like Britannia.
Multiple times during this time, the Empire was split into two, and even four, pieces
to be more easily governed.
After the capital was moved to Constantinople, the West started to decline until eventually
it was conquered in 476 and the Roman Empire lost… you know, Rome.
Of course, Rome has left a cultural legacy all over the world that really isn’t seen
with most other civilizations in world history.
While there are plenty of equivalents in other parts of the world, Rome expanding as dramatically
as it did and controlling its territories with such a tight grip for so long changed
the history of Europe in ways we can’t even imagine, and therefore also their colonies.
I mean look at this, this is the state capitol building of California, a state of a country
on a continent the Romans would never have even dreamed of, and yet it was still built
in a kind of Greco-Roman style architecture and also has a statue of the goddess Minerva.
Rome also invented and expanded concepts and inventions like citizenship, arches, aqueducts,
concrete, road networks, and even the idea that someone on trial is innocent until proven
guilty.
Honestly, it’s kind of hard to imagine European society without all that.
So could Rome have survived?
Well, really it did until 1453, but in a quite different form.
Then again, if the Western Roman Empire were to have survived more or less intact, it would
definitely have had to make some changes.
After all, gladiatorial fights and an imperial cult of personality wouldn‘t have gone well
in the 21st century.
Then again Rome changed the Western world so much that it‘s hard to say if people
would still care about that stuff like we do, so I could be wrong.
I could also be right, I don’t know, a 21st century Roman Empire is way too complicated
to think of.
A really interesting scenario, but not one I’d personally think about too much.
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