The Roman Empire was the most extensive in terms of social and political order in Western civilization. It began when Augustus Caesar became emperor of Rome. It is important to note that Rome started out very humble and archaic. Despite its primitive nature, Rome managed to become a world dominant power. Some of Rome's advantages were its location near the sea which facilitated and strengthened trade, and the proximity of Greek influence which gave the potential for the uprising of the Roman Empire. With a new empire comes new economic values, new governments, and a new class structure. And with the destruction of an empire comes the destruction of these values, of government and of the class structure. As the Roman Empire grew, so did its influence on future eras. However, as the great empire disintegrates, the coming ages would have to endure the residue of the decimation of the once great empire. The Roman Empire was one of the first to convey the outline of types of government, and how government works according to Western civilization. Roman government was a mixture of democracy, republic, and even dictatorship, with some emperors choosing to act as they wished rather than follow the advice of the Senate. In the early days of the republic, all power was in the hands of noble, aristocratic, and wealthy landowners. In 450 BC, twelve tables of laws were published, making the Roman Empire the first to develop and enforce equitable laws in the Roman world. These laws come from a democratic element of government because, traditionally, these laws can only be passed if they have been voted on by the people. People also have the right to elect their own officials. The officials of Rome were called consuls; they could... middle of paper ...... controlled by the Lord who is free to enjoy the gains of the land and control the peasants. The Lord controlled both the workers of his land and the land itself. Another basic economic need was money. In the Middle Ages, money was in the form of metal coins. The value of a coin was predetermined by the type of metal used. The most precious metals created the highest paying coins. But of course, for money to have any value, it must create a strong economy. This was done by creating jobs which led to trade. The most common job was farming, but there were also other jobs available that played an important role in the economy. These jobs included artisans who produced basic goods, bakers, shoemakers, millers, and merchants. All these jobs and money created a very strong foundation for trade between continents, which led to an enlarged and prosperous economy..