Medieval illustration
Medieval illustration

Important Vocab: Write in your notes

The Romans were an empire: one government that rules over many countries

Look at how long it would take to travel across the longest part of the roman empire today!

Understanding BCE & CE

BCE

Before Common Era

Years count backward

500 BCE 100 BCE 50 BCE
|
Year 0

CE

Common Era

Years count forward

50 CE 100 CE 2025 CE

Timeline Example

500 BCE
100 BCE
0
100 CE
2025 CE
60%
Past (BCE)
Present (CE)

BCE = Before Common Era

• Same as BC (Before Christ)

• Years go down (100 BCE → 50 BCE)

CE = Common Era

• Same as AD (Anno Domini)

• Years go up (50 CE → 2025 CE)

Roman legends say that Rome was founded in 509 B.C.E. Archaeologists agree with a date around 600 B.C.E.

The Western Roman Empire fell in 476 C.E.

Answer questions in your notes:

1. How many years are between 600B.C.E. and 476 C.E.

2. The Eastern Roman Empire fell in 1453 C.E., how many more years is that?

3. How many years total did the Roman Empire last between 600B.C.E. and 1453 C.E.?

The United States only has existed for around 250 years

This means that all of US history fils into Roman history 10 times!

A generation is about 20 years. That means that over Roman History there are 100 generations. One hundred families were formed, had kids, the kids grew up and their kids had kids etc.

Time is very hard to keep track of, especially very long times like the length of the Roman Empire. Check out this image in order to put it in perspective