The Roman Empire was founded in 27 BC and remained a powerful entity until it was divided into an eastern and western sector in 395 AD. The eastern division, known as the Byzantine Empire, continued to flourish until 1453, finally succumbing to the Ottoman Turks. The first two centuries of the Roman Empire’s existence was a period known as “Pax Romana,” a period of internal stability, rapid economic growth, and territorial expansion achieved through victorious military campaigns. The Roman Empire reached its apex in 117 AD during the leadership of Trajan, the second to hold power during a chapter of Roman history when a successive line of emperors, known as the “Five Good Emperors,” led the country to prosperity. This golden era lasted for almost 100 years, beginning with Emperor Nerva in 96 AD and ended with the death of Emperor Marcus Aurelius in 180 AD.
