The Roman Empire was centred on which sea?

The Mediterranean Sea — The empire encircled the Mediterranean, which Romans called 'our sea'.

The Roman Empire spanned how many continents at its height?

Three — It spanned three continents — Europe, Asia and Africa.

Which of these is a key part of the Roman legacy?

Roman law and the Latin language — Roman law and Latin profoundly shaped later Europe.

Much of the labour in the Roman economy was done by:

Slaves — Slaves performed much of the labour in Roman society.

The Romans connected their vast empire mainly through a network of:

Roads and sea routes — Famous Roman roads and Mediterranean shipping held the empire together.

The Roman Empire — World History

The big idea

Think first

An empire that fell more than fifteen centuries ago still shapes the words you speak, the laws you live under and the buildings you walk past. How does a dead empire stay this alive?

For centuries the Roman Empire was the greatest power in the western world, ruling lands across three continents around the Mediterranean Sea. Its armies, laws, roads and language shaped Europe so deeply that their influence is still felt today. The rise, organisation and legacy of Rome are a key theme in world history.

An empire across three continents

At its height, around the second century CE, the Roman Empire stretched across parts of Europe, Asia and Africa, encircling the Mediterranean Sea, which the Romans called "our sea". From Britain in the north-west to Egypt and the Near East in the south-east, a single government held this vast territory together.

The empire was knit together by a magnificent network of roads and by the sea. These routes allowed armies, officials, goods and ideas to move across great distances. A professional army defended its long frontiers.

Check yourself

The Romans called the Mediterranean "our sea". What does this tell us about the empire's shape?

The empire was limited to the European coastThe empire encircled the Mediterranean, spanning Europe, Asia and AfricaRome ruled only the islands of the MediterraneanThe sea separated the empire from its provinces

Roman society and economy

Roman society was complex and unequal. It included:

citizens, who had legal rights and privileges,
slaves, who did much of the labour and had no rights, and
the peoples of the provinces, gradually granted citizenship over time.

The economy was sophisticated for its age. It rested on farming (great estates worked by slaves and tenants), thriving trade across the Mediterranean, well-developed towns, a common currency of coins, and specialised crafts. Grain, wine, olive oil and other goods moved freely across the empire.

Check yourself

A merchant in Roman Egypt sells grain to a buyer in Gaul and is paid in coins he can spend at home. Which feature of the Roman economy makes this possible?

Each province minted its own separate moneyA common currency used across the empireBarter was the only form of exchangeTrade was banned between provinces

The Roman legacy

Rome's influence outlived the empire itself. Its lasting legacy includes:

Roman law: principles of justice and legal reasoning that underlie many modern legal systems.
The Latin language, parent of French, Spanish, Italian and others, and the source of much English vocabulary.
Architecture and engineering: the arch, the dome, concrete, aqueducts that carried water, and grand public buildings.
The calendar and systems of administration.

Christianity became the empire's official religion. It spread across Europe through Roman networks. In these ways Rome shaped the foundations of later European civilisation.

Check yourself

French, Spanish and Italian all grew out of one language of the Roman Empire. Which one?

GreekLatinEtruscanHebrew

Key takeaways

At its height the Roman Empire spanned three continents (Europe, Asia, Africa) around the Mediterranean ("our sea")
Held together by a vast road network, sea routes and a professional army
Society: citizens, slaves and provincials; a sophisticated economy of estates, trade, towns and a common currency
Legacy: Roman law, the Latin language, architecture/engineering (arches, aqueducts), and the spread of Christianity

You’ve reached the end of this topic.

Review the takeaways above, then mark it done.

Create a free account to track progress