The Roman Empire lasted from 27 BCE, when Augustus became the first emperor, until 476 CE, marking the fall of the Western Roman Empire. This gives the empire a duration of about 503 years in its imperial form
. However, if considering the broader Roman civilization, including the Roman Kingdom (starting traditionally in 753 BCE) and the Roman Republic (509–27 BCE), the entire Roman civilization spanned nearly 1,200 years until the fall of the Western Empire in 476 CE
. Additionally, the Eastern Roman Empire, also known as the Byzantine Empire, continued after the fall of the Western Empire and lasted until 1453 CE, extending the legacy of Roman rule for nearly 1,500 years from the founding of Rome
Summary:
- Roman Empire (imperial period): 27 BCE – 476 CE (~503 years)
- Roman civilization (Kingdom + Republic + Empire): 753 BCE – 476 CE (~1,229 years)
- Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire) continuation: until 1453 CE (~1,480 years from founding)
Thus, the Roman Empire in its classical imperial form lasted about five centuries, but the broader Roman civilization and its eastern continuation spanned over a millennium.
