Romans/Roman Empire

The ruling government all around the Mediterranean from about 27 BC to AD 450. It began as a small city-state in Italy and grew into an empire that controlled most of the world of that day. It reached from Britain, France, and Germany in the north to Morocco in Africa and east to what is now Turkey and Lebanon. As Rome conquered and controlled these areas, it brought some degree of peace that lasted about five centuries. This peace also permitted trade to grow. Roman money became the common currency throughout the world.

In the time before Jesus, the city-state had a form of democracy with a senate representing the citizens. Later the emperor became more and more powerful. By about AD 100, the emperor of Rome was even worshipped as a god in some places. The Romans insisted that everyone must say, “Caesar is Lord.” Because Christians refused to say that, they were persecuted throughout the Roman Empire. Despite persecution, the peace and the ease of travel that Rome established helped the church to grow and spread throughout the world of that day.