From this view, it can seem that the United States is following the course of all empires: doomed to decline and eventual fall. To call America an empire is admittedly to court controversy, or at least confusion. After all, the United States claims dominion over no countries and even prodded its allies to renounce their colonies. But there’s an illuminating precedent for the kind of imperial project the United States forged after the war: the Roman Empire. Like modern America, Rome attained a degree of supremacy unprecedented in its day.

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Persons: Peter Heather, parry — Locations: United States, America, Rome