Changes

==Beginnings==

==Beginnings==

The pre-imperial history of Rome is treated elsewhere.  In brief, the Republic served to make Rome the most powerful military force in the west and led to great conquest, but it gave way to rule by Augustus and the Emperors and would never again be seen for Rome's remaining 500 years.

The pre-imperial history of Rome is treated elsewhere.  In brief, the Republic served to make Rome the most powerful military force in the west and led to great conquest, but it gave way to rule by Augustus and the Emperors and would never again be seen for Rome's remaining 500 years.

==List of Roman Emperors==

==List of Roman Emperors==

[[Image:Pantheon.jpg|right|180px]]

[[File:Statue-Augustus.jpg|thumb|Augustus Caesar, the first emperor of the Roman Empire.]]

Augustus was the first Emperor, leading a stable and peaceful Empire.  He cut the size of the military and reorganized it so the Empire would have about 300,000 men under arms, basically manning the borders, and extremely mobile.  He decided against expanding the Empire after the [[Battle of the Teutoburg Forest]] in 9 AD and the loss the Romans incurred believing there was little to gain in spending great amounts of money and resources to conquer barbarians that could provide little in return.  His successors agreed with his policies, although they did from time to time make small expansions to the borders.  He undertook building projects and road construction that led to great improvements.

Augustus was the first Emperor, leading a stable and peaceful Empire.  He cut the size of the military and reorganized it so the Empire would have about 300,000 men under arms, basically manning the borders, and extremely mobile.  He decided against expanding the Empire after the [[Battle of the Teutoburg Forest]] in 9 AD and the loss the Romans incurred believing there was little to gain in spending great amounts of money and resources to conquer barbarians that could provide little in return.  His successors agreed with his policies, although they did from time to time make small expansions to the borders.  He undertook building projects and road construction that led to great improvements.

==Roman Engineering==

==Roman Engineering==

The Roman Empire is known for its construction of roads that stretched throughout the Empire. These roads nurtured trade through the Empire and connected with other trade routes as far as the [[Silk Road]]. In addition to trade, the highways allowed for fast overland movement of military forces to areas that needed defense or suppression. The Roman style of road construction was revolutionary at its time, and has for the most part yet to be improved upon. Crowns allowed runoff of rainwater into gutters and sub-packing of peastone and gravel allowed for absorption of frost heaves where necessary. While not all Roman roads were built this way, this was nevertheless a milestone in road construction. Surveying methods of the time forced the Romans to build these roads arrow straight. During the reign of [[Diocletian]] 372 main roads were recorded, totaling 53,000 miles.<ref>Leslie and Roy Adkins, ''Life in Ancient Rome'' ISBN 0-19-512332-8</ref> Many of the routes the roads followed are still in use today.

The Roman Empire is known for its construction of roads that stretched throughout the Empire. These roads nurtured trade through the Empire and connected with other trade routes as far as the [[Silk Road]]. In addition to trade, the highways allowed for fast overland movement of military forces to areas that needed defense or suppression. The Roman style of road construction was revolutionary at its time, and has for the most part yet to be improved upon. Crowns allowed runoff of rainwater into gutters and sub-packing of peastone and gravel allowed for absorption of frost heaves where necessary. While not all Roman roads were built this way, this was nevertheless a milestone in road construction. Surveying methods of the time forced the Romans to build these roads arrow straight. During the reign of [[Diocletian]] 372 main roads were recorded, totaling 53,000 miles.<ref>Leslie and Roy Adkins, ''Life in Ancient Rome'' ISBN 0-19-512332-8</ref> Many of the routes the roads followed are still in use today.