Roman empire Quote by Chris Wickham
““The gods were gone, but imperial status remained unchanged –divinus remained a technical term meaning ‘imperial’. The emperor’s position was all the more central in that the Roman empire was regarded as, by definition, always victorious, a belief that survived even the disasters of the fifth century.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Making of the Roman Empire, 1990
Roman imperial identity persisted after the gods' disappearance, emphasizing political continuity over religious change.
In simple terms: Imperial power stayed the same even when gods vanished.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how political structures can outlast religious shifts.
Themes
political continuity
religion
identity
history
Mood
analytical
historical
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- modern governance
- religious reform
- cultural transitions
Key Concepts
imperialism
cultural resilience
statecraft
Questions to Reflect On
- How does religious change affect political legitimacy?
- Can institutions survive without traditional religious backing?
A Different Perspective
Political power may be vulnerable to ideological changes.
![“[Instead] of inquiring why the Roman empire was destroyed, we should rather be surprised that it had subsisted so long.” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f89/edward-gibbon-710_destroyed_instead-of-inquiring-why-the-roman-empir_626622.jpg)
