Rome Empire: 7 curious facts about the city

Today is History Day! Come and learn more about the Roman Empire through 7 interesting facts about the historic city and the Roman Empire!

Who likes it when we talk a little more about History here on the site?

If you follow our website, you may have noticed that we like to address historical themes from different places around the world.

We recently created some content about Egypt and even listed some films to learn about historical facts – which you will see linked throughout the text.

And in today's content, we will embark on another important chapter in the history of humanity: the Roman Empire?

Do you know what this city was and what its importance was for the history of Europe and the world? 

In this article, we will explore this important chapter in the history of humanity in more detail. To do so, we have gathered 7 interesting facts about the Roman Empire so that you can understand what the city represented.

What is the Roman Empire?

The Roman Empire – also known as the Roman Empire – is, without a doubt, one of the main landmarks in the history of humanity.

This is because, historically speaking, the Roman Empire is considered the greatest civilization in Western history. 

The Roman Empire lasted for about five centuries – beginning in 27 BC and ending in 476 AD. In addition to its longevity, the Roman Empire was also notable for its impressive size. 

At that time, the Roman Empire stretched from Egypt, through Great Britain and into Asia Minor. 

And in addition to the power that an empire of this size had, this entire territory ensured that the Roman Empire established good connections with regions such as Europe, Africa and Asia.

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7 Curious Facts About the Roman Empire

Now that we have given a brief contextualization about what the Roman Empire was, it is time to talk a little more about some of the main curiosities involving the region.

Below, we have separated 7 interesting facts about the Roman Empire to give you an insight into this historical landmark!

An extension that would make anyone envious

Since the beginning of humanity, one of the main symbols of power was the ability to expand one's territory. 

After all, this directly affected the way you were conquering your space and expanding your influence.

And when it comes to this topic, the Roman Empire deserves to be highlighted!

This is because, at the height of its power, the Roman Empire dominated an estimated territory of 5,000,000 km².

The main cities under the influence of the Roman Empire

When it comes to the main cities that were part of or controlled by the Roman Empire, the number is also impressive.

The list of the main cities includes almost 60. In this list, we find cities and regions that no longer exist – such as Babylon, Alexandria and Constantinople – as well as cities that are still known today, such as Rome, Athens and Jerusalem.

Culture also became part of the conquered areas

When we are talking about territorial expansion, it is common to only take into consideration the military aspect, which involves the conquest of a new territory.

But at this point in history, expansion was also cultural. The customs adopted by Rome spread as the Roman Empire conquered new territories, making Roman customs one of the most popular in the world.

The deaths that are part of the history of the Colosseum

You've probably seen images of the Colosseum somewhere – whether in a film, a series or even on social media, as the place is one of the most famous tourist attractions in the world.

But behind this famous tourist attraction, there is a very sinister past hidden.

The Colosseum – which was built to house the famous Roman gladiator fights and thus entertain the population – became the scene of more than 500 thousand deaths during the entire time it hosted these events.

And in addition to all these human lives lost, it is estimated that more than 1 million animals have died inside the arena during its period of activity.

Some of the main tourist attractions of the time

In addition to the Colosseum, other buildings from the period still attract attention today!

Among the most popular are: Trajan's Market, the Pantheon, Castel Sant'Angelo and the Arch of Constantine.

These buildings – which were built throughout history under the command of various emperors – are living proof of the influence and power that the Roman Empire wielded, as well as being famous tourist attractions to this day!

An architecture that lasts until today

And speaking of popular tourist attractions that are part of the history of the Roman Empire, it's time to talk a little more about the architecture of the time.

That's because it's not just the tourist attractions that are still standing today. Many of the Roman bridges that were built during the rise of the empire are still standing strong and in use to this day! 

And among the many that are still standing, the Alcántara bridge stands out.

Built in 106 AD by Emperor Trajan, the bridge – which currently stands over the Tagus River in Spain – draws attention for its beauty and, at the same time, for being a symbol of the grandeur of the empire as a whole.

Speaking of which, it is worth highlighting one of Trajan's phrases about its construction. At the time, Trajan is said to have said, “I have built a bridge that will last forever.”

And we can say that Trajano's project is fulfilling its mission well and is lasting a long time!

Julius Caesar and Cleopatra: a romance that went down in history

You probably remember the couple Julius Caesar and Cleopatra, right? After all, they are simply one of the most famous couples in world history.

After Julius Caesar supported Cleopatra during the Battle of the Nile, the couple began an intense love affair.

But despite being together for around 14 years – and, according to some records, even having a child together – they never married.

And this happened because Roman law at the time only recognized unions between two Roman citizens.

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