Roman Empire

The influence of the Roman Empire on history and
on the present has been profound. Governments,
architecture, engineering, art, science all are in
many ways a continuation and variation of original
Roman models. If it seems that the Roman empire
never really left, it didn't. It still exists.

The Roman Republic was replaced by the Roman Empire
and dictators started their reign which lasted until
around 500 AD when foreign invaders overan the city.
When the empire collapsed as a ruling government, it
can be perceived that it continued but in another form.

The empire was no more. Organization and structure
changed, but Roman based influence over the world's people
continued, even expanded. Transition was made by taking
control via people's basic fears of the unknown and by
their beliefs in a deity, always a convenient source of
power. Rome thus continued its role as home of an
empire, but this revised version was based on religion
and called the Roman catholic church. The revised
version of the emperor, in effect, was called the pope.

Roman catholic church rituals were held for centuries
in the Roman Latin language as Rome maintained its seat
of power. This Roman empire has directly controlled or
influenced kings, queens, presidents, prime ministers,
nations world wide for two thousand years. Successions
of popes have in various degrees shaped world policy,
new world exploration, guided the inquistition, crusades,
science, literature, set laws, forced wars, directed
family life, thought, and on and on.

With one billion followers worldwide the pope of today has
a span of influence emperors of the past only dreamed of.
The pope, always one of the most planet's most recognized
figures, is still based in Rome and Rome still influences
humanity on all continents.

Coexisting harmoniously with governments today as an
accepted world power, the Roman church insures the
perpetuation of the Roman empire in ways Julius Casesar,
the first dictator of the empire, could only marvel at,
amazed at the expansion and duration of control which
continues thousands of years after his death.