Roman Empire the first western Empire the eternal light .

I have always loved learning about the Roman Empire and themes that go with the Empire. I liked it best when it was actually an Empire and not a republic. It is a bit what the UN is now seen as today (although for our sakes I hope the UN does not rely on slavery for its economic growth!) I think that one of the main reasons why the Western Roman Empire collapsed was through disease and its total reliance on slavery. They were a military based society and in another blog I shall inform my readers how turning to Christianity softened the Romans. I think that disease especially destroyed the Romans and them turning to Christianity made them soft and not warriors.

In the year of 49 BC, Julius Caesar became in charge of Rome and it turned from being a Republic to a dictatorship, which led to his nephew Augustus being the first Emperor. The Roman forces controlled the Mediterranean, which in Latin means the center of the Earth. During the height of the Roman Empire in the second century CE the Roman world reached from England to the Persian Gulf. Julius Caesar was a Roman General who became famous after his victorias against the French barbarians.

We must remember that when the Romans carved out their own Empire, much older Civilisations had to crumble into dust before the might of the Romans. The Romans conquered the Greeks and their World. They also took over and dominated Egypt, which they became relient on for their supply of grain. No Senators were allowed into Egypt without the Emperor's direct permission. Egypt became a vital part of the Roman Empire in the way that it supplied grain for Rome as its population expanded.

Julius Caesar and his relationship with Cleopatra in 69 to 30 BC, I find very interesting indeed. They both came from different worlds and the only thing they had in common were that they were nobles. I also admire Cleopatra as a female pharaoh. She was extremely intelligent and heavily influenced Julius Caesar

I find the storyline of the Romans invading a more ancient and civilised society very interesting indeed. It was also during the siege of Alexandria in 49 BC that the Library of Alexander was burnt to the ground. I think that this was a devastatingly bad move for the Romans. When they moved into Egypt they lost one of the treasures of the ancient world and all of the ancient knowledge therein. I think that if this library had survived it would have helped the Romans more than if it had been lost.

The Roman World was a very warlike and agressive society it held its legions in highest regard, above all else. The cult of mithras was a soldier's religion within the legions of Rome. Bulls have been worshiped by Mediterranean societies since the Minoans in 1700 BC. Bull worshiping still carries on to this day although mostly in India. The legions and the cult started in the 4 Century BC and it was only the Elite soldiers that could join this mythical cult. However, when Christianity was the major religion across the Empire thanks to Constantine in 324 AD, when he won the civil war, he gave thanks to the Christian God for helping him win.

Marcus Aurelius from around 161 AD to 169 AD is one of my favourite Emperors. He was there during what I would call the height of the Roman Empire. He was the great, great grand nephew of the Emperor Hadrian. Marcus Aurelius fought successfully against the Parthian Empire in the East. This was a major victory for the Romans as the horse archers were devastating against foot soldiers.

The Antonine plague in 165 AD killed a lot of the Roman population and they took a long time to recover. It caused the death of over 5 million people. Back then they had no idea what was causing the plague; they did not link it to rats or disease. It just got worse and worse and it wiped out a lot of their military might. I think that the Antonine plague and the civil wars within the western Roman Empire is what put an end to the Roman Empire.

The Romans were one of the first Empires in the Western world and a lot of their legacy can still be seen today. The old ruins within Britain are a fine example. Also when we are in a Church, the books and the psalms are still read in Latin, a "dead" language that we still study at school. I think that when one has become more aware of what this great Empire has done, one does not want to waste their one life watching television. When I read what the Romans have done it motivates me to do similar greatness. I like the fact that the Romans made epic baths in Britain and that one can still visit them today.

The impact of the Romans on the modern world and their relevance today is still very visible. My main examples are the roads that their slaves built, are the ones we still use today. One of my favourite saying is that "all roads lead to Rome", the city of Eternal light. The Romans and there legacy survive to this day and I shall always continue to admire these awsome Romans they have endless secrets and this is just the begining of many articles that shall be written about these real heroes I call the Romans legends.