Imagine a modern world where a rebuilt Roman Empire stretches across much of Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia. This hypothetical empire would be ranked as the seventh largest country globally, just surpassing India but still trailing behind Australia and Brazil in size. With a population of about 711 million people, it would rank third worldwide, yet still fall short of China and India. Despite covering regions with both rich and poor areas, its average income wouldn’t be particularly high compared to some modern nations.
If one were to picture its capital, cities like Istanbul, with its historic significance, might come to mind. In terms of military might, this new Roman Empire would boast the world’s largest standing army. Its linguistic diversity would make Arabic the most spoken language, followed by French and Turkish. Religiously, it would be the largest Muslim and Christian country in terms of population. This intriguing concept leaves much to the imagination when considering the possible modern governance and daily lives of its people.
Key Takeaways
- A modern Roman Empire would be impressively large but not the largest.
- Its population diversity would lead to varied languages and religions.
- Economically, it would have a huge GDP but low average income per person.
The Historical Background of Rome’s Dominance
The Roman Empire, in the year 117 AD, reached the peak of its power and geographical expansion. Spanning over a vast area, it controlled diverse regions across Europe, North Africa, and parts of the Middle East. At its zenith, the empire included many territories that are now individual countries. Throughout history, the empire eventually weakened and faded away.
If considered in the present day, the ancient empire‘s territory would cover areas now part of 53 countries. Encompassing over six million square kilometers, it would rank as the seventh largest nation in terms of land area. For context, its size would only exceed India yet remain smaller than countries like Australia and Brazil. Russia would be almost triple its size.
A modern version of this empire would house about 711 million people, roughly 10% of the global population today. In comparison, the ancient Roman Empire once held around 70 million people, which was 21% of the world’s population at the time. This modern empire would be the third most populous, only trailing behind China and India. Cities within its borders would include significant populations, with Istanbul being a potential capital, given its historical significance as Constantinople.
In economic terms, the current-day empire would boast a GDP of roughly $15.99 trillion, making its economy the second largest after the United States. However, income per individual would be considerably lower due to disparities between affluent and poorer areas within the territories.
Linguistically, Arabic would dominate, spoken by 32% of the population. French, Turkish, Italian, and English would also be prevalent. Religiously, the empire would host a large Muslim population, primarily Sunni, constituting 44.6% of the total. Christians would make up 39.3%, with significant Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant communities.
These factors paint a complex picture of what this historically renowned territory might look like if reimagined in today’s world.
Modern Ideas: A Revamped Empire
A Look at Geography
Envisioning a modern state with the borders of the ancient Roman Empire involves significant geographical shifts. Such an empire would stretch over 6 million square kilometers, covering parts of 53 countries. While impressive, this area would rank it as the seventh-largest country worldwide. It would be larger than India but smaller than Australia and Brazil, with Russia still towering nearly threefold in size. The diverse landscapes and climates would present both opportunities and challenges for a united governance.
Population Size and International Role
If the Roman Empire were reestablished today, its population would stand at about 711 million people. This number would make it the third most populous nation, trailing only China and India, but more than doubling the United States’ population. The Empire would encompass major urban centers, with cities like Istanbul, Cairo, and London being noteworthy for their size and influence. Economically, despite its vast GDP of $15.99 trillion, it would only be the world’s second-largest economy, following the U.S. However, income distribution would be uneven, influencing its global standing. The Empire would boast the world’s largest military force, outlining its significant role on the international stage.
Economic Promise of the Imaginary Empire
Evaluating Its Place Among Present-Day Nations
The modern interpretation of the Roman Empire would cover more than six million square kilometers, placing it as the world’s seventh-largest country by land area. This size surpasses India but is smaller than both Australia and Brazil. In terms of population, this Empire would house approximately 711 million people, securing it the third spot globally, just behind India and China. Despite this large population, the nation would still face an economic challenge. Its GDP would amount to $15.99 trillion, positioning it as the world’s second-largest economy. The United States would maintain a larger GDP despite having a smaller population.
Income Differences per Person
If you examine the income level of the modern iteration of this vast Empire, stark contrasts would become apparent. Wealthier regions like England, France, and Germany would contrast sharply with poorer areas such as Iraq, Armenia, and Libya. This diversity in economic conditions results in an average income of approximately $24,623 per person within the Empire. This figure is relatively low, placing the Empire 52nd in the global ranking, just ahead of Kazakhstan but trailing behind Latvia.
Military Power by the Numbers
The hypothetical modern Roman Empire would boast the largest standing military in the world. With active military personnel numbering approximately 2,771,000, this force would surpass any other nation currently. This significant military presence is a reflection of the large population and the diverse territories that form the modern Empire.
The vast expanse of the Empire, covering regions with significant historical military prowess, would provide strategic advantages. Diverse geographical areas, such as mountainous regions and extensive coastlines, would offer various training and deployment opportunities.
In addition to sheer numbers, the composition of the military would draw from a wide array of cultural and tactical backgrounds. This diversity could lead to unique strategies and approaches, leveraging historical and modern tactical insights from the various regions within the Empire’s borders.
Cultural and Linguistic Variety
Main Spoken Languages
In a hypothetical recreation of the Roman Empire today, a variety of languages would be spoken across the region. The most spoken language would be Arabic, with 32% of people using it. French would be the second most common, spoken by around 14%. Turkish would come next with about 9.5%. Italian and English would also be widely spoken, rounding out the top five languages.
Religious Demographics
The Empire’s religious landscape would be quite diverse. Muslims would form the largest group, making up 44.6% of the population. This includes 42.2% who would be Sunni Muslims and 2.4% Shia Muslims. Christians would be the second largest group, comprising 39.3% of the people. Of these, Catholics would account for 25.2%, Orthodox Christians 8.2%, and Protestants 5.6%. Jews would represent about 1% of the population, while those without religious affiliation, including atheists and agnostics, would make up 10.5%.
Thoughts on How a Modern Empire Might Be Governed and Lived In
A reimagined Roman Empire today would possess territories covering more than six million square kilometers, incorporating pieces of 53 nations. Despite its vast area, it would rank as only the seventh largest country globally. In terms of population, this empire’s citizens would number around 711 million, placing it third after China and India. Cities like Istanbul, with 14.6 million residents, and others like Cairo, London, and Baghdad, would be significant urban centers within this empire.
Economically, the empire would have a GDP of approximately $15.99 trillion, ranking second in global economic size, just beneath the United States. However, the average income per person, around $24,623, would be relatively low, positioned 52nd worldwide, demonstrating stark income disparities among regions.
The military strength of this hypothetical empire would be unmatched with an estimated 2,771,000 active personnel, making it the most substantial standing army. In terms of language, Arabic would be predominant, spoken by roughly 32% of the population, followed by French, Turkish, Italian, and English.
Religiously, Muslims would form the largest group, comprising about 44.6% of the population, with Christians making up 39.3%. This setup would make the empire both the largest Muslim and Christian nation globally. A small percentage, about 1%, would be Jewish, while those without religious affiliation would account for 10.5%. The complex cultural and linguistic makeup would present unique challenges and opportunities for governance and daily life within this vast recreated empire.
