Rome and Re-Rome: A Map That Puts Two Empires Side by Side
It’s hard not to be fascinated when you see history overlap, especially when it’s as bold as trying to rebuild an empire that once ruled a quarter of the world’s population. That’s what makes this map by Virtenax so interesting. It shows the territories controlled by the ancient Roman Empire at its peak, alongside the borders of Fascist Italy’s empire under Mussolini in the early 20th century.
At a glance, you can see what Mussolini was trying to do. He wanted Italy to echo the glory of ancient Rome—not just in name, but in territory. The areas that overlap are mostly in the central Mediterranean, with Libya being one of the most symbolic links.
The Roman Empire was far bigger in almost every way—territory, influence, and population. Here’s how they stack up:
| Feature | Roman Empire (117 CE) | Italian Empire (c. 1940) |
|---|---|---|
| Land Area | ~5 million sq km (1.93 million sq mi) | ~1.8 million sq km (0.69 million sq mi) |
| % of World Land | ~3.3% | ~1.2% |
| Population Estimate | ~60 million | ~50 million (including colonies) |
| % of World Population | ~21–25% | ~2% |
| Peak Year | 117 CE | 1940 |
| Duration | ~503 years (Western Roman Empire) | ~60 years (Italian Empire, 1882–1947) |
Even during Mussolini’s most aggressive expansion period, Italy’s empire remained a regional power compared to Rome’s position at the heart of the ancient world.
Where Did They Rule?
Looking at today’s map, here’s how the two empires broke down by modern countries:
Roman Empire only:
- England
- France
- Spain
- Portugal
- Western Germany
- Austria
- Hungary
- Belgium
- Netherlands
- Switzerland
- Romania
- Bulgaria
- Serbia
- Turkey
- Syria
- Iraq
- Israel
- Jordan
- Armenia
- Azerbijan
- Georgia
Italian Empire only:
- Ethiopia
- Eritrea
- Somalia
- Dodecanese Islands (now part of Greece)
- A concession in Tianjin, China (not shown on the map)
Territories ruled by both:
- Italy
- Greece
- Libya
- Tunisia
- Malta
- Coastal Egypt
- Albania
- Parts of the Balkans
In places like Libya, Mussolini’s government didn’t just claim the land—they tried to visually tie it back to Roman times. Cities were renamed, monuments went up, and new roads were laid out following Roman-style planning. The idea was to frame Italian colonialism as a return, not a conquest.
What’s Still Visible Today?
The Roman Empire left a lot behind, more than most civilizations of its time. You don’t need to visit a museum to see it; it’s built into the layout of cities across Europe and parts of the Middle East. Roads, bridges, and even some buildings are still standing. And the Roman influence runs deeper than just stone. Laws based on Roman principles shaped legal systems across Europe. Latin gave birth to languages still spoken by hundreds of millions of people today, like Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese, and Romanian.
The Italian Empire, though far more recent, left less behind, especially in terms of cultural influence. But there are still reminders. In Eritrea, the capital city of Asmara has entire neighborhoods built during the Italian occupation in the 1930s. The wide streets, modernist buildings, and even Italian-style cafes give the city a very different feel from the rest of East Africa. Elsewhere, like Libya and Ethiopia, what remains is less about architecture and more about memory. For many people in those countries, Italy’s legacy is remembered through the lens of occupation, resistance, and loss—not shared heritage.
