The Roman Empire was the largest in terms of social and political order in Western civilization. It all began when Augustus Caesar became emperor of Rome. It is important to note that Rome began very humble and archaic. Despite how primitive it was, Rome managed to become a world-dominant power. Some of Rome's advantages were its location near the sea which facilitated and enhanced trade, and the proximity of Greek influence which gave the Roman Empire potential for revolt. Along with a new empire comes new economic values, governments and class structures. And along with the ruin of an empire comes the destruction of those values, of government, and of class structure. With the rise of the Roman Empire, its influence on future eras also increased. However, as the great empire crumbles into chaos, future ages would bear the remnants of the decimation of what was once a great empire. The Roman Empire was one of the first ever to convey the contours of types of government and how government works for Western civilization. Roman government was a mix of democracy, republic, and even dictatorship as some emperors chose to act on what they wanted rather than follow the advice of the senate. At the beginning of the republic, all power was in the hands of nobles, aristocrats and wealthy landowners. In 450 BC, twelve tables of laws were published, making the Roman Empire the first to enact and enforce just laws in the Roman world. Such laws arise from a democratic element of government because traditionally such laws can only be passed if voted on by the people. The right to elect their own officials is also extended to the people. Rome's officials were called consuls; they could... middle of paper... controlled by the Lord who is free to enjoy the profit of the land and control the peasants. The Lord was in control of 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 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. Such jobs included artisans who produced raw materials, bakers, shoemakers, millers, and merchants. All those jobs and money created a very solid foundation for trade between continents which led to an expanded and successful economy.