The Roman era can be divided into two main periods:Roman Republic (509 BCE – 27 BCE)Rome was governed by elected leaders and a Senate.Roman Empire (27 BCE – 476 CE in the West)Began when Augustus became the first emperor.The Western Roman Empire ended in 476 CE when it was invaded by Germanic tribes.The Eastern Roman Empire (also called the Byzantine Empire) lasted until 1453 CE when Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Turks.Summary:Start: 509 BCE (Republic) or 27 BCE (Empire)End: 476 CE (Western Empire) / 1453 CE (Eastern Empire)