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The Roman Empire was the post-Roman Republic period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterized by government headed by emperors and large territorial holdings around the Mediterranean Sea in Europe, Africa and Asia. The city of Rome was the largest city in the world c. 100 BC – c. AD 400, with Constantinople (New Rome) becoming the largest around AD 500,[5][6] and the Empire's populace grew to an estimated 50 to 90 million inhabitants (roughly 20% of the world's population at the time).[n 7][7] The 500-year-old republic which preceded it was severely destabilized in a series of civil wars and political conflict, during which Julius Caesar was appointed as perpetual dictator and then assassinated in 44 BC. Civil wars and executions continued, culminating in the victory of Octavian, Caesar's adopted son, over Mark Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium in 31 BC and the annexation of Egypt. Octavian's power was then unassailable and in 27 BC the Roman Senate formally granted him overarching power and the new title Augustus, effectively marking the end of the Roman Republic. 

 

The Roman Empire, at its height (c. 117 CE), was the most extensive political and social structure in western civilization. By 285 CE the empire had grown too vast to be ruled from the central government at Rome and so was divided by Emperor Diocletian (284-305 CE) into a Western and an Eastern Empire. The Roman Empire began when Augustus Caesar (27 BCE-14 CE) became the first emperor of Rome and ended, in the west, when the last Roman emperor, Romulus Augustulus, was deposed by the Germanic King Odoacer (476 CE). In the east, it continued as the Byzantine Empire until the death of Constantine XI and the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks in 1453 CE. The influence of the Roman Empire on western civilization was profound in its lasting contributions to virtually every aspect of western culture .

SOCIAL STRUCTURE 

During the time where the agriculture city state, family was not only clarified with the blood relations but also can be marked by the head of the family legally. Similarly, to other families, during that period, the oldest man in the household have the control of the family. He is also the master of his wife, if not the wife’s father will take over. Slaves are also part of the social order and they are mostly from prisons. They can be bought and sell in the black market. 

CLOTHING 

The clothing usually indicates an individual class to another class. Tunic was made by a coarse dark material and worn by common people, slaves and herdsman. Military tunics were shorter than those worn by civilians. Wigs are worn by man to hide the baldness of their hair. They used to have long hair wig and full beards. However, they have the opposite features which they were clean-shaven and short hair for after a while. In 1 Century AD, they started to style themselves into their original fashion again. 

FOOD 

Ancient Roman had very simple food habits. Breakfast are usually consumed with bread, salad, olives, cheese, fruits, nuts, and left over cold meat. Wine was not common until 250 B. C. It was only had mass produced around the time of Cato the Elder who mentions in his book De Agri Cultura that the vineyard will bring benefits in a good farm. 

The scutum was a large shield, used by Roman legionary and by the gladiators, around 100cm tall and 40 cm wide. 

Its typically rectangular but could have square edges, rounded edges, or actually be more of an oval shape. 

 

Parma shield

The parma was a small shield, used by various types of Roman soldiers. 

The parma shield was around 90cm wide and was typically circular in shape.