Geography and demography Roman Empire

the roman empire 1 of largest in history, contiguous territories throughout europe, north africa, , middle east. latin phrase imperium sine fine ( empire without end ) expressed ideology neither time nor space limited empire. in vergil s epic poem aeneid, limitless empire said granted romans supreme deity jupiter. claim of universal dominion renewed , perpetuated when empire came under christian rule in 4th century.

in reality, roman expansion accomplished under republic, though parts of northern europe conquered in 1st century ad, when roman control in europe, africa , asia strengthened. during reign of augustus, global map of known world displayed first time in public @ rome, coinciding composition of comprehensive work on political geography survives antiquity, geography of pontic greek writer strabo. when augustus died, commemorative account of achievements (res gestae) prominently featured geographical cataloguing of peoples , places within empire. geography, census, , meticulous keeping of written records central concerns of roman imperial administration.

a segment of ruins of hadrian s wall in northern england

the empire reached largest expanse under trajan (reigned 98–117), encompassing area of 5 million square kilometres. traditional population estimate of 55–60 million inhabitants accounted between one-sixth , one-fourth of world s total population , made largest population of unified political entity in west until mid-19th century. recent demographic studies have argued population peak ranging 70 million more 100 million. each of 3 largest cities in empire—rome, alexandria, , antioch—was twice size of european city @ beginning of 17th century.

as historian christopher kelly has described it:

then empire stretched hadrian s wall in drizzle-soaked northern england sun-baked banks of euphrates in syria; great rhine–danube river system, snaked across fertile, flat lands of europe low countries black sea, rich plains of north african coast , luxuriant gash of nile valley in egypt. empire circled mediterranean ... referred conquerors mare nostrum— our sea .

trajan s successor hadrian adopted policy of maintaining rather expanding empire. borders (fines) marked, , frontiers (limites) patrolled. heavily fortified borders unstable. hadrian s wall, separated roman world perceived ever-present barbarian threat, primary surviving monument of effort.

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