Roman Empire Map in 3D: How Rome Grew From City to Empire
The Roman Empire grew from a small city on the river Tiber into a power that ruled the whole Mediterranean. At its largest, under Emperor Trajan around 117 AD, it stretched from Britain to the Middle East. On the 3D History Globe you can watch Rome spread step by step across three continents.
Explore in 3DRoman Empire quick facts
| Dates | 27 BC to 476 AD (the Western Empire) |
|---|---|
| Peak | About 117 AD, under Trajan |
| Capital | Rome |
| Largest area | About 5 million km² |
| People | Around 60 to 70 million at its height |
| Famous rulers | Augustus, Trajan, Hadrian, Marcus Aurelius |
Interesting facts
- Romans built a road network of over 400,000 km, including about 80,000 km of paved roads.
- Latin grew into Italian, Spanish, French, Portuguese and Romanian.
- Rome itself may have had up to a million people, one of the largest cities of the ancient world.
- Roman law shaped the legal systems of much of Europe.
- The eastern half of the empire lived on as the Byzantine Empire until 1453.
Roman Empire timeline
- 753 BCRome is founded, according to legend
- 509 BCRome becomes a republic
- 264 BCRome controls most of Italy
- 146 BCCarthage and Greece fall to Rome
- 27 BCAugustus becomes the first emperor
- 117 ADThe empire reaches its largest size under Trajan
- 476 ADThe last emperor in the West is removed
On the History Globe, press play to watch these stages appear one by one, with the borders growing across the map.
More empires in 3D
Roman Empire questions
When was the Roman Empire at its largest?
Around 117 AD, under Emperor Trajan, when it covered about 5 million km² from Britain to Mesopotamia.
Who was the first Roman emperor?
Augustus, who took power in 27 BC after the end of the Roman Republic.
When did the Roman Empire fall?
The Western Roman Empire ended in 476 AD. The Eastern half, the Byzantine Empire, lasted until 1453.
What was the capital of the Roman Empire?
Rome. Later, Constantinople became the capital of the eastern half.
What languages came from Latin?
Italian, Spanish, French, Portuguese and Romanian all grew out of Latin.
The 3D History Globe is made by Julian Neagu, a solo founder in London, as part of VisionVix Simulators. It is free to use in the browser on desktop and phone, with no sign-up. Map borders are approximate, for learning.