Which Roman Empire? The East or West?
"The precise date at which the Roman Republic changed into the Roman Empire is disputed, with the dates of Julius Caesar's appointment as perpetual dictator (44 BC), the battle of Actium (September 2, 31 BC), and the date in which the Roman Senate granted Octavian the title Augustus (January 16, 27 BC), all being advanced as candidates. To confuse matters even further, Octavian/Augustus officially proclaimed that he had saved the Roman Republic and carefully disguised his power under republican forms. Indeed, on the surface it might appear that the Republic was alive: consuls continued to be elected, tribunes of the plebeians continued to offer legislation, and senators still debated in the Roman Curia. However, it was Octavian who influenced everything and controlled the final decisions, and in final analysis, had the legions to back him up, if it ever became necessary.
The end of the Roman Empire is traditionally placed on 4 September 476, as the Western Roman Empire fell to Germanic invaders. However, this view does not recognize the Eastern Roman Empire, known to modern-day historians as the Byzantine Empire, which maintained Roman legal and cultural traditions. Developing a distinct Greek Christian character, it managed to survive and even thrive for a millennium after the fall of the West, eventually being conquered on 29 May 1453 by the Ottoman Empire."
2006-10-27 14:55:34
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answer #1
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answered by Mike J 5
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The Eastern Roman Empire had invaders. Take note of the Visigoths in the 4th century AD, the Ostrogoths in the 5th century (who the Eastern Romans were having many problems with before they eventually invaded Italy), and also take note of the Slavs who invaded the Balkans, including Greece, during the 6th and 7th centuries. And let's not forget that the rise of Islam took from the Eastern Romans many of their most valuable provinces, and later after 1071, the Seljuk Turks. The big reason why the Eastern Roman Empire outlasted the Western Roman Empire by 1000 years was simply due to more effective leadership. The Eastern Roman Empire was much more densely populated and urbanized than the Western Roman Empire - hence collecting taxes on the people and enacting policies which all individuals must follow as well was much easier in the eastern empire (because it's much easier to do these things in cities than a vast countryside sprawled with tiny villages here and there with no real administrative center for hundreds of miles). This was one of the reasons why the Western Roman Empire couldn't stand the barbarian invasions and thus why they had to rely on the barbarians to protect the borders, which in the end turned on itself. The wealth of the eastern empire was also much greater. By about 300 AD, the western empire had become sort of a backwater, even in Italy (though some cities were still fairly well off, Milan being one example; though those were few and far between). Most of the population and the bulk of economic activity was concentrated in the eastern Mediterranean region. The division of the empire by East and West left the Western Roman Empire having to control too much land with too little of a tax base, unlike the Eastern Roman Empire. In the end, it was not really sustainable. The same fate would occur on the Eastern Roman Empire about 1000 years later also, though there is a difference. The fall of the Eastern Roman Empire was clear while the fall of the Western Roman Empire was not and this is largely because we need to keep in mind that the eastern empire was based around its capital of Constantinople whereas the western empire had no real focus - even Rome during the Late Antiquity was nothing compared to its past. The Eastern Roman Empire over its last centuries, like the western empire, had lost much land and wealth. Its capital of Constantinople, however, was still relatively well off despite everything but alone against the Turks who now possessed cannons that could fire through its high walls, it could not stand a chance.
2016-03-15 22:42:13
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answer #2
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answered by Anonymous
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The roman empire lasted 503 years and 7 months
2015-03-07 07:46:59
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answer #3
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answered by quahmel 1
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Approx 525 years for the Western Empire (Rome) and 1475 years for the Eastern Empire in Byzantium (Istanbul).
Many historians mark the crowning of Julius Caesar in 44 BC as the origin of the Empire. Some other historians dispute this. The Western Emperor fell in 476 AD and the Eastern Emporer fell in 1453 AD.
2006-10-27 14:43:33
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answer #4
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answered by mattwms_97 2
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Rome Hotelbye nowadays is one of the main tourist places of the planet, due to the incalculable immensity of their archaeological and art pieces, along with for the attraction of its distinctive traditions, the wonder of its beautiful opinions, and the majesty of their great parks. One of many points should see en Rome is Campo de'Fiori. Campo de'Fiori is a square square south of Piazza Navona applied as a market place throughout the day, and celebration main for school students and tourists at night. The title suggests “field of flowers” and was first given throughout the Middle Ages when the area was really a meadow. Yet another place worth visit is The Roman Forum. Positioned in the little pit between the Palatine and Capitoline Hills, The Roman Forum was for centuries the teeming center of old Rome and nowadays is just a expansive ruin of architectural parts
2016-12-14 20:04:05
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answer #5
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answered by Anonymous
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This Site Might Help You.
RE:
how long did the roman empire last?
2015-08-07 01:59:06
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answer #6
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answered by ? 1
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The Roman Empire began when Octavian (Julius Caesar's heir and grand-nephew) became the first Emperor of Rome (and was named Augustus Caesar). This happened on January 16th, 27 BC.
The Roman Empire fell on September 4th, 476 AD after the last Roman Emperor was deposed (a boy named Romulus Augustus) by Odoacer.
So that means the Roman Empire lasted for 503 years, 7 months, and 19 years (give or take a few hours).
2006-10-27 15:03:13
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answer #7
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answered by sirtitus 2
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it lasted for 503 years, from 27 BC to 476 A.D., if you don't count the Eastern Roman Empire that became the Byzantine Empire
2015-09-15 07:08:37
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answer #8
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answered by Vahe 4
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The founding of Rome is said to be 753 B.C. That's when Romulus and Remus supposedly founded the city but it's more of a legend than actual fact. The traditional "fall" of Rome was 476 A.D. That was the first time a Germanic emperor ruled Rome.
2006-10-27 14:43:42
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answer #9
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answered by Anonymous
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How Long Did Rome Last
2016-12-11 13:01:53
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answer #10
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answered by ? 4
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