Roman Empire
Roman Empire period
Roman imperial era
The Roman Empire was the period of ancient Roman civilization characterized by imperial rule. Originating from the Roman Republic in 27 BC with Augustus as its first emperor, it encompassed a vast territory surrounding the Mediterranean Sea and exerted significant influence on law, language, architecture, and culture throughout Europe and beyond. It eventually split into Western (falling in 476 AD) and Eastern (Byzantine) empires, lasting until 1453 AD.