Changes

[[http://www.conservapedia.com/File:Roman_Empire_Trajan_117AD.png|thumb|The Roman Empire at the death of [[Trajan]] in 117 A.D.<ref>Bennett, J. ''Trajan: Optimus Princeps''. 1997. Fig. 1. Regions east of the [[Euphrates]] river were held only in the years 116–117.</ref> The pink shaded areas denote vassals.]]

[[File:Roman Empire Trajan 117AD.png|thumb|The Roman Empire at the death of [[Trajan]] in 117 A.D.<ref>Bennett, J. ''Trajan: Optimus Princeps''. 1997. Fig. 1. Regions east of the [[Euphrates]] river were held only in the years 116–117.</ref> The pink shaded areas denote vassals.]]

{{Rome}}

{{Rome}}

The '''Roman Empire''' marks the period when government control in [[Rome]] went from a Republican form of government to rule by an emperor.  The appointment of [[Augustus Caesar]] as ruler in 27 BC has been used as the starting date for the Roman Empire, although, alternately, the appointment of [[Julius Caesar]] as perpetual dictator in 46 BC is sometimes considered as a short-lived precursor.  The Roman Empire was the direct successor to the [[Roman Republic]] which had already established Rome as the dominant force in the west.  Because of this succession, there is no definitive date when the [[Roman Republic]] became the Roman Empire.  Indeed, in the early years of Augustus' reign, it was unclear that a permanent change had taken place, although this was apparent by the end of his long reign.  Utilizing the rule of law and a strong military, the Roman Empire ruled most of the western civilized world.  While the general goal of the Empire as put forth by Augustus became keeping the status quo instead of adding new territory, there were still some changes and continuing growth.  Britain was added in 44 AD as well as other small conquests until the empire reached its height in about 117 AD.   

The '''Roman Empire''' marks the period when government control in [[Rome]] went from a Republican form of government to rule by an emperor.  The appointment of [[Augustus Caesar]] as ruler in 27 BC has been used as the starting date for the Roman Empire, although, alternately, the appointment of [[Julius Caesar]] as perpetual dictator in 46 BC is sometimes considered as a short-lived precursor.  The Roman Empire was the direct successor to the [[Roman Republic]] which had already established Rome as the dominant force in the west.  Because of this succession, there is no definitive date when the [[Roman Republic]] became the Roman Empire.  Indeed, in the early years of Augustus' reign, it was unclear that a permanent change had taken place, although this was apparent by the end of his long reign.  Utilizing the rule of law and a strong military, the Roman Empire ruled most of the western civilized world.  While the general goal of the Empire as put forth by Augustus became keeping the status quo instead of adding new territory, there were still some changes and continuing growth.  Britain was added in 44 AD as well as other small conquests until the empire reached its height in about 117 AD.