Quote Originally Posted by Zaknafien
The US Empire works in much the same way the Roman Republic's Empire did-- military expansion or threat of intervention brings favorable circumstances for mercantile efforts and colonization. The US has hundreds of what amount to military colonies scattered across the globe, for instance.
Yes but those guys go home whereas I think colonae were the nails that held Roman rule in place. The USA is simply not interested in acquiring huge tracts of real estate the way the Romans did.

I don't think your analogy flies. Maybe Rome is more like Carthage? Incredibly rich metropolis, strong commercial ethic, wide spread network of outposts, strong brilliant navy, variable perfomance in land wars, and a senate willing to tolerate but suspicous of military adventurers. Hannibal Bushca?