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History glossary

Roman Empire

the empire ruled from Rome and later Constantinople, spanning much of Europe, North Africa, and western Asia.

Category
Empire
Region
Mediterranean world
Date range
27 BCE-476 CE in the West

What it means

The Roman Empire grew from the Roman Republic and controlled lands around the Mediterranean, including modern Italy, Spain, France, Greece, Turkey, Syria, Egypt, and North Africa. Its western half fell in 476 CE, while the eastern empire continued from Constantinople for centuries.

Related terms

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