If you’ve been on TikTok lately, you’ve probably come across the same question being asked in multiple videos: How often do you think about the Roman Empire? This TikTok trend is quite simple. You ask the men in your life how often they think about this ancient civilization. More often than not, they’ll respond with “often.”
But why are people so obsessed with this question, and why do men think about the Roman Empire so much?
Why is there so much talk about the Roman Empire?
According to Know Your Meme, a website that delves into the origins of internet trends and jokes, the question first originated from an Instagram user in Sweden. The user, Saskia Cort, encouraged her followers to ask the men in their lives this question and share their answers. The trend then gained traction after a Roman reenactor posed the same question in a viral Instagram reel.
The trend quickly took off, especially on TikTok, where the hashtag #romanempire has garnered a staggering 1.3 billion views.
The belief is that men think about the Roman Empire far more than women do, and if you scroll through the “Roman Empire” videos on TikTok, it certainly seems to be the case.
Many women are taken aback when they ask their boyfriends, husbands, or fathers this question and receive answers like “every day.”
In one video, a woman asks her fiancé the question and is shocked when he responds with “three times a day.” When she probes further, he explains, “There’s so much to think about.”
And he’s right – the Roman Empire lasted for about 1,000 years and had a profound influence on modern civilizations.
In another video, a woman texts her father the question. He replies that he thinks about it every time he goes to the bathroom because he contemplates the Roman invention of the modern sewage system.
In yet another video, a woman regrets asking her husband the question as he launches into a long list of reasons. He highlights how the Romans popularized cement, roads, aqueducts, and even welfare. He also mentions that the Roman Empire contributed to the creation of the calendar and some forms of surgery.
While many men claim to think about the Roman Empire often, their answers are unpredictable, and some men openly admit to never thinking about it at all.
When CBS News asked male correspondents how often they think about the Roman Empire, several admitted to never thinking about it.
However, “CBS Mornings” host and streaming anchor Vladimir Duthiers revealed that he thinks about it “probably once or twice a month.”
Streaming anchor Errol Barnett shared a similar sentiment, stating that he thinks about it “a couple times a month.” He believes that the Roman Empire’s influence on history and philosophy, along with its connection to ancient Greece, justifies these occasional thoughts.
Why did the Roman Empire eventually collapse?
We know that the Roman Empire, which existed from 27 BCE to 476 AD, was responsible for numerous innovations. The Romans introduced concepts like Roman numerals, the Julian Calendar (with July named after Julius Caesar and August named after Augustus), and even newspapers. Many of these inventions continue to be used today, as outlined by Rome’s tourism site.
However, despite the enduring presence of historical landmarks like the Colosseum, the empire itself no longer exists. There were several factors that contributed to its downfall, including barbarian invasions that led to significant military defeats, economic troubles, and excessive spending. Rome also experienced a division into the Eastern and Western empires.
The Western Empire was eventually overtaken by Visigoths, a Germanic group that raided Rome. The Eastern Empire, which was always stronger, persisted as the Byzantine Empire before eventually dissolving during the Middle Ages.
While the Roman Empire, which spanned over 1.7 million square miles at its peak, may no longer physically exist, it remains alive in the thoughts and imaginations of many.
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