66 Roman Empire Facts For Kids To Learn About Its History

The Roman Empire was one of the largest empires in world history and the empire that lasted the longest in known history. 

From its founding to its fall, the Roman Empire lasted well over a millennium and influenced much ancient, middle, and modern history. Even today, the influence of the Roman Empire can be felt in how much it shaped the cultures of Europe and the Middle East, and eventually the whole world indirectly. 

The history of Rome can be divided into three periods such as Period of Kings (625-510 BC), Republican Rome (510-31 BC), and Imperial Rome (31 BC-476 AD). The Roman Empire lasted even after 476 BC, depending on who's telling. 

In 285 AD, the Roman Empire split into two parts; The Western Roman Empire, which was destroyed with the death of Romulus Augustulus, and The Eastern Roman Empire, which was based around the city of Constantinople. The Eastern Roman Empire is referred to as the Byzantine Empire by historians and lasted till 1453 AD when the Ottomans overran it. 

Learn more about Roman Empire (27 BC-476 AD) in this article and share it with your friends and family!

Facts About The Roman Empire

During the conquest of the Italian peninsula, the Greek king Pyrrhus won two major battles against the Romans. Still, he suffered heavy amounts of casualties, due to which he lost the war. This gave rise to the term Pyrrhic victory.

During the Second Punic War, Rome suffered the worst defeat in its entire history in the Battle of Cannae. 

The battle was fought in 216 BC between Hannibal's and Roman forces, with an estimated 50,000 and 70,000 Roman soldiers dying in the battle. This battle is called the 'battle of annihilation' by historians.

The Pax Romana, or Roman Peace, were the years when the Roman Empire saw peace and prosperity. 

The period dates from 27 BC-180 AD and saw the Roman Empire's economy and power booming. Within this period, the years between 96-180 AD have been labeled as the period of the Five Good Emperors. 

The five good emperors were Nerva, Tarjan, Hadrian, Antonius Pius, and Marcus Aurelius, who expanded Rome to its peak in power.

Trajan is generally accepted as the best emperor in Roman history, with the Roman Empire seeing its peak during his rule. In contrast, Caligula is accepted as the worst emperor, as he drained the Roman treasury to build monuments about his own greatness. 

He was the first emperor to be assassinated, and he was killed to stop him from relocating to Egypt to live his life as the sun god.

The year 69 AD is called the Year of the Four Emperors, with Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian gaining power one after the other in quick succession after the death of Nero. 

193 AD is called the Year of the Five Emperors, with five people vying to claim the throne after Commodus' death, with Septimius Severus becoming the emperor. 

The Year of the Six Emperors was the year of 238 AD, when six emperors were recognized after the rule of Maximinus Thrax.

Roman Empire's Reign

Around 600 BC, the city-state of Rome was founded in an area of Italy that was known as Etruria and Latium.

The city was initially founded by Latium villagers coming together to defend themselves from an Etruscan invasion. Still, eventually, the city fell into the Etruscan rule, which formed Rome's city.

So far, no proper conclusion has been reached on whether the Latium villagers yielded their city to the Etruscans or whether they were defeated. 

From 625 BC-510 BC, six kings led the Kingdom of Rome and expanded its borders over the peninsula of Italy, with several competing kingdoms still prospering around them. 

Rome grew military-wise, physically, and economically in this period, and the Roman constitution was drafted in this period as well. 

The Period of Kings, as this period is titled, ended when the Roman people rebelled against the Etruscan rule and established a rule of the Republic. This led to the creation of the Roman Republic.

The Republican Period of Rome saw the rule of the elected upper class called the senators and knights. By 264 BC, the Republic had complete control over the peninsula of Italy, with the conquest occurring in three phases. 

The first phase was Rome conquering the neighboring Latins, and the conflict lasted from 340 BC-338 BC. 

After this, the Romans began a four-decade conflict with the Samnites, beginning in 326 BC and ending with the defeat of the Samnites in 284 BC. 

The final phase was the conquest of the Greeks in southern Italy, with the victory of the Romans, making them the rulers of the peninsula of Italy.

The next major conflict that the Romans fought was the three Punic Wars against Carthage, an empire found across the Mediterranean Sea in North Africa.

The First Punic War was fought for control over the island of Sicily from 264 BC-241 BC, ending with the Romans annexing Sicily.

The Second Punic War erupted in 218 BC when Hannibal led an army against the Roman Empire over the Alps. 

Hannibal saw continuous victories but was eventually defeated in 202 BC by the Romans, and the Rome Republic seized the overseas possessions of Carthage. 

The Third Punic War lasted from 149–146 BC and ended with the complete destruction of the Carthage civilization.

In 60 BC, Julius Caesar rose in power and spread the borders of the Rome Republic beyond the Mediterranean region by defeating the Celtic Gauls in 51 BC. 

Caesar announced himself as the Roman dictator in the year 44 BC and was assassinated in the same year.

Control over the Rome Republic split between Julius' second-in-command Mark Antony and Caesar's adopted son Octavius.

In 31 BC, Octavius conquered Egypt and killed Mark Antony, making him the ruler of the Rome Republic. He assumed the title of Augustus and ushered in the period of the Roman Empire.

The Roman Empire saw peace and prosperity during this period, with several emperors coming and going.

The Roman Empire saw its peak in 117 AD when it was at its largest, having territories in Asia, Northern Africa, and most of Europe. 

The Roman Empire was split into the Western Roman Empire and Eastern Roman Empire, with both the empires falling in 476 AD and 1453 AD, respectively.

Life In The Roman Empire

The Roman Empire was one of the most powerful empires in the world for centuries. It was a time of significant advances in art, literature, and architecture, but the Roman Empire was also a time of great violence and bloodshed. The daily life of Roman citizens varies based on their social and economic status. 

People with significant wealth enjoyed their lives by living in their large, private villas where they regularly held parties and ate lavish exotic dishes. 

On the other hand, the poor lived in apartment buildings that were poorly built and always had fire hazards in them. The apartments were also built too steeply and were enormous in height which was extremely unsafe.

The primary source of entertainment for the citizens was the gladiatorial games that were fought by the famous gladiators and enslaved people.

The Romans were known for their opulent palaces, their exquisite food, and their elegant fashion. Romans lived a life of luxury and privilege.

Even the lower classes enjoyed a higher standard of living than the average person in other empires.

Famous Roman Emperors

Famous Roman Emperors include Julius Caesar, Augustus, Constantine the Great, and Theodosius I. These men were some of the most influential and powerful rulers in history. They oversaw the expansion of the Roman Empire and helped solidify its place as one of the leading civilizations of the ancient world. Each of these emperors left a lasting mark on the empire and helped to shape its future. However, the Roman Empire had a lasting impact on the world. Here are the details of some of the famous Roman emperors.

Gaius Octavius (63 BC-14 AD) gained enormous power as the leader of the Roman Republic from 31 BC-27 BC, with the Republic serving more as a facade than a fully functioning governing body. He founded the Roman Empire in 27 BC and crowned himself as the first emperor adopting the title of Augustus. 

Marcus Ulpius Trajanus (53-117 AD) succeeded Marcus Cocceius Nerva, the first of the Five Good Emperors, making Trajan the Second Good Emperor. He is often called the best emperor in Roman History, and the Roman Empire saw its peak in power during his reign as well.

Publius Aelius Hadrianus (76-138 AD) strengthened the Roman Empire not by expanding its borders but by improving its infrastructure and increasing the military power of the Empire. He famously traveled all across his Empire and promoted Greek philosophy wherever he went. He loved Greek culture and built Athens as the cultural capital of the empire. He was the third of the Five Good Emperors.

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (121-180 AD) was the last of the Five Good Emperors. He is often called the Philosopher Emperor and is still considered one of the prominent figures in Stoic philosophy due to his writing the 12 volume book Meditations. His administration faced several conflicts and troubles, which he tackled competently and strategically.

The Roman Empire came to an end in 476 AD when the last Roman emperor was overthrown by the Germanic leader Odoacer.

Did You Know...

The Roman Empire (27 BC-476 AD) is undoubtedly one of the biggest influences on today's history, with the span of its power lasting more than a millennium. 

Several significant world events occurred during its reign, with the Roman Empire being the direct instigator of several of the events. 

It could be said that world history would be vastly different if the Roman Empire had never come into being.

Ancient Rome was one of the most powerful empires in the world for centuries. In its heyday, the Roman Empire controlled a vast area that extended from Britain all the way to North Africa and from Spain to the Middle East.

Ancient Rome was so mighty that it even ruled over parts of what is now Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Romania.

The Roman Empire was a complex and varied society with a rich culture that has influenced the world to this day.

Ancient Rome was also a very advanced society, with a high level of technology and engineering.

Some of the most impressive Roman structures still standing today include the Colosseum, the Pantheon, and the aqueducts.

One of the critical reasons for the Roman Empire's long-lasting success was its mighty army.

The Roman army was one of the most advanced and well-disciplined in the world and was able to conquer vast areas.

The first roman emperor was Augustus Caesar. Under his rule, the Roman Empire reached its greatest extent.

In the Eastern empire, the last roman emperor was Constantine. He was the first emperor to convert to Christianity, which would eventually become the official religion of the empire.

Roman politics were very complex, with a large number of institutions and laws. The Roman Senate was a key institution, as were the Roman legions.

Roman law was also highly developed, with a number of famous legal texts such as the Twelve Tables.

The Roman economy was based on agriculture, with a number of important crops such as wheat, barley, and olives being grown.

The Empire was also a major trading power, with a network of roads and trade routes extending across the empire.

Roman society was highly stratified, with a large number of social classes. The upper classes were made up of wealthy landowners and the political elite, while the lower classes consisted of enslaved people and the poor. Roman roads, for example, are still used in many parts of the world.

Roman citizens enjoyed a number of rights and privileges, such as the right to vote and the right to own property.

Germanic tribes, such as the Visigoths and the Vandals, eventually toppled the Roman Empire, but it left a lasting legacy that is still evident today.

Rome's history is filled with great leaders, such as Julius Caesar, Augustus Caesar, and Constantine.

Romans in Ancient Rome were considered some of the most advanced people in the world. They developed a complex social hierarchy with a powerful military and a thriving economy.

Romans were also responsible for many of the most important inventions and discoveries of the ancient world, including the arch, the aqueduct, and concrete.

Romans were highly religious people, and they believed in many gods and goddesses.

The most important god was Jupiter, the king of the gods. Other major gods included Mars, the god of war; Mercury, the messenger god; and Venus, the goddess of love.

The Roman system of government and law laid the foundation for modern Western civilization.

The Roman Empire ultimately fell due to a number of factors, including internal strikes, economic problems, and invasions from barbarian tribes. Despite its fall, the Empire has left a lasting legacy and has been an immensely influential force in world history.