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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.

==Chronology==

==List of Roman Emperors==

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

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

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.

* [[Tiberius]] ruled from 14 to 37

* [[Caligula]] ruled from 37 to 41

* [[Tiberius]] ''(14-37)''

* [[Claudius]] ruled from 41 to 54

* [[Caligula]] ''(37-41)''

* [[Nero]]     ruled from 54 to 68

* [[Claudius]] ''(41-54)''

* Anarchy as 4 men tried to claim the Emperorship.  The eventual winner was:

* [[Nero]] ''(54-68)''

* [[Vespasian]] ruled from 70 to 79

 

* [[Titus]]   ruled from 79 to 81

Nero's tyrannies finally spurred [[Galba]], commander of the Spanish legions, to revolt.  When the [[Roman Senate|Senate]] endorsed Galba as he was marching on Rome, Nero fled and committed suicide.  This ended the Julio-Claudian dynasty.  There followed the "[[Year of Four Emperors]]", as generals jockeyed for power.  This was finally ended when Vespasian, commander of the legions fighting against the [[Jewish revolt]], took firm power.

* [[Domitian]] ruled from 81 to 96

 

* [[Nerva]]   ruled from 96 to 98

* [[Trajan]]   ruled from 98 to 117

* [[Hadrian]] ruled from 117 to 138

* [[Antoninus Pius]] ruled from 138 to 161

* [[Vespasian]] ''(69-79)''

* [[Marcus Aurelius]] ruled from 161 to 180

* [[Titus]] ''(79-81)''

* [[Commodus]] ruled from 180 to 192

* [[Domitian]] ''(81-96)''

* Struggle for the throne

 

Domitian was the first emperor to demand to be called "Lord" instead of "Princeps" (first citizen).  When he died, the Senate refused to declare him a god and elected [[Nerva]] to succeed him.  Nerva, childless, started the practice of an emperor [[adopt]]ing his successor.

 

* [[Nerva]] ''(96-98)''

* [[Trajan]] ''(98-117)''

* [[Hadrian]] ''(117-138)''

* [[Antonius Pius]] ''(138-161)''

* [[Marcus Aurelius]] ''(161-180)''

** His co-emperor, [[Lucius Verus]], reigned with him from 161-166.

* [[Commodus]] ''(180-192)''

* [[Pertinax]] ''(192-193)''

* [[Didius Julianus]] ''(193)''

 

 

Marcus Aurelius ended the period of the "Five Good Emperors" by permitting his incompetent son Commodus to succeed him.  There followed anarchy, called the [[Crisis of the Third Century]].  The Praetorian Guard publicly auctioned the throne; the winner, [[Didius Julianus]], reigned for under a year before [[Septimus Severus]] deposed and executed him.  However, he could not prevent the empire from sliding into chaos.

 

* [[Septimus Severus]] ruled from 193 to 211

* [[Septimus Severus]] ruled from 193 to 211

* [[Caracalla]] ruled from 211 to 217

* [[Caracalla]] ruled from 211 to 217

...

...

   

   

===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]] to [[China]]. 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]] to [[China]]. 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.