The Roman Empire

The Roman Empire was the most powerful economic, cultural, political and military force in the world of its time and became one of the largest empires in world history.

At its height under Emperor Trajan, it covered 5 million square kilometres, holding sway over an estimated 70 million people, at that time 21% of the world’s entire population, controlling large territorial holdings around the Mediterranean Sea in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East

In this episode of Empire Builders we explore 10 sites that defined the Roman Empire. We begin at the battle site of Alesia in Eastern France where Caesar defeated the Gauls in 53BC. His adopted son, Augustus, regarded as the greatest of Roman Emperors, expanded the empire during his 41-year reign and began many grand construction projects completed in subsequent decades.

Among these were magnificent temples such as the Maison Caree in Nimes, France, and amphitheatres such as the 6,000-seat Roman Theatre that survives in Merida, Spain. The Romans also built massive and monumental aqueducts like Pont du Gard, their highest, in southern France and giant stadiums and arenas across the empire modelled on the Colosseum in Rome.

Rome’s empire was built on power and conquest. They invented the victory arch. Its not surprising Rome’s ingenious and groundbreaking building methods were copied by successive European empires and still are today.