Most powerful empire in history

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Originally posted by Imperator Invictus

I really don't see why the Romans are considered to be so powerful. Geographically, the Romans aren't even in the 15 largest Empires. Their economy flowed gold out into East and their amy was not as dominant as those of other Empires, like the Timurids.

Whether the Romans were the "Greatest" is another matter, but certainly not the most powerful.

 In terms of geography I don't think a large empire is necessary powerful, I mean you could rule thousands of miles of featureless desert and it doesnt make your empire great or powerful in real terms.
 Look at the Roman empire and possible directions of expansion, the north, Germany, Scotland and eastern europe above the Danube, Germany was dense woodland Scotland was sparsely populated with harsh mountainous terrain and in terms of the north east you have the seemingly endless plains of the steppes. All of which are inhabitated by hostile tribes.
 Was it really worth the expense to keep expanding northwards when there wasnt really that much to gain except more war?
 The south you have pretty much the Sahara desert, so the east is the only possible worthwhile direction for expansion, but Persia is there and more so when the Sassanids were in power are far from a push over. The size of the Roman empire may not be particularly amazing, but it had a population of perhaps 60/80 million, was fabulously rich and had many good natural and artificial frontiers, the Rhine, Danube, Euphrates, the Sahara desert and Hadrians wall. 
 All of which could provide a firm barrier to invaders or atleast impede them if they were adequately defended, when you look at it like that there was little reason to expand. 
 Its funny though how Romes biggest and most sustained flurry of military success occurred during the days of the republic, during the time of the Emperors the only major gains or conquests are really Mauretania, Dacia, Britain and Trajans largely temporary eastern conquests. Even then Dacia was surrendered in the 3rd century and Britain was effectively lost for much of the last century of the western empire due to invasions or rebellions.