Comparison of Ancient Rome and Modern Italy: Size and Population

When comparing ancient Rome to modern Rome, particularly in terms of population and territorial extent, the differences are striking. This article delves into the dramatic changes that occurred over two millennia, highlighting how the size of both ancient and modern cities and empires compare.

Sizing Up the Population

Ancient Rome's population reached about 1 million at its peak around 2000 years ago. In contrast, modern Rome has a population of approximately 2.8 million, which is roughly three times the number of inhabitants it had during its heyday.

The global population, on the other hand, has increased by roughly 30 times since then. This significant growth in the overall population means that Rome's population only grew less than threefold over two millennia, whereas the Earth's population increased by over 30 times. This underscores the impressive growth rate of ancient Rome's population in the context of such dramatic population expansion.

It's particularly noteworthy that so many people in ancient times lived in urban areas, especially large ones like Rome. In ancient times, over 90% of the population lived in rural areas and were engaged in agricultural activities. The concentration of so many people in urban centers during this period was truly remarkable.

Comparing the Roman Empire to the Italian Empire

When comparing the Roman Empire to modern-day Italy, the differences are even more striking. The Roman Empire, at its greatest extent, covered approximately one-quarter of the entire population of the Earth. In comparison, modern Italy, with its population of about 60 million out of the global population of 8 billion, makes up a mere 0.75% of the world's population.

This vast disparity in population highlights the immense size and power of the Roman Empire compared to modern Italy.

Area Comparison

The Roman Empire's territorial extent was extensive, covering an area of around 5 million square kilometers at its peak. This immense size far exceeds the current area of modern Italy, which is only about 301,340 square kilometers.

During the height of its power, ancient Rome had an area of about 70 km2 with a population of around 1 million. In modern times, Rome within the city limits, which is based on the area defined by the Aurelian walls from the third century AD, has a population of 2,860,009 and an area of 1,285 km2.

To put this in perspective, ancient Rome in the 1st century AD was a relatively small city by today's standards, but it was a significant urban center for its time. Its area and population reflect the immense ambition and power of the Roman Empire.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the comparison between ancient Rome and modern Italy reveals significant changes in both population and territorial size over two millennia. While modern Rome thrives with a population nearly triple that of its ancient counterpart, the geographic and demographic scale of the Roman Empire dwarfs that of contemporary Italy.

These comparisons highlight the remarkable achievements of ancient Rome, not only in terms of urbanization but also in terms of territorial conquest and governance.