What if Rome discovered America?

[Reflection]

What if Rome, for whatever reason, had some kind of expedition out west that led to them discovering the Americas? What might Roman America look like?

While this would happen way, way earlier than Columbus and sounds unlikely to happen, it's important to realize just how advanced the Romans were. Their technology was almost on par with the Colonial Era world a millennium later. Even if it's not the most likely scenario that Rome discovers America, it is a fun thing to consider. So what might this American extension of the Roman Empire be like, and how would it be governed? Think it would eventually become independent?

Let me know what you think.

(also, funny note: If Rome colonized the Americas, then it really would be a Latin America)

 

[jmc247]

It’s possible if you had some Greco-Roman shipbuilder really manage a nice outside the Mediterranean transport ship.

Rome treats the natives like a cross between the Spanish and French.

 

[Swedish luck]

I don't think they would even try to colonise America even if they found it perhaps some company tries it but unlikely.

 

[Reflection]

I don't think they would even try to colonise America even if they found it perhaps some company tries it but unlikely.

Why though? I feel like Rome would see the advantage of an overseas colony to draw resources far, expand their reach and improve the strength of their empire.

 

[Rishi]

What if Rome discovered America?

Who says they didn't? Real history is hidden from the masses.

 

[mrmandias]

I think it would be some kind of semi-legendary epic journey that wouldn't make much immediate difference, because it was just too far for regular contact using Roman technology, and there wasn't the motive for it.

Where it makes a difference is later. With a more concrete notion that there is land far to the west, you might get an earlier Age of Discovery or maybe Vinland survives because there is more interest or something.

 

[Rafael stahl]

For that to happen the romans would have to get much more experience in the atlantic than the did in OTL, so, because it's unlikely that they would naturally one day decide they wanted to sail across the atlantic, what if we made america a roman myth? This would make romans much more likely to even try reaching the americas. But, I don't think america would become a roman possession, since the empire was already hard to administer. I think the most plausible outcome in an eventual roman discovery of america, is having roman generals travel to the new world and declare themselves king. This would make colonisation of the americas by europeans much easier, since now, they don't need to respond to an overseas empire. Of course, the roman empire wouldn't like that, but I doubt they would be willing to cross an ocean just get land l. I mean, the conquest of england was already controversial, and that was just one channel away

 

[CV12Hornet]

What if Rome, for whatever reason, had some kind of expedition out west that led to them discovering the Americas? What might Roman America look like?

While this would happen way, way earlier than Columbus and sounds unlikely to happen, it's important to realize just how advanced the Romans were. Their technology was almost on par with the Colonial Era world a millennium later. Even if it's not the most likely scenario that Rome discovers America, it is a fun thing to consider. So what might this American extension of the Roman Empire be like, and how would it be governed? Think it would eventually become independent?

Let me know what you think.

(also, funny note: If Rome colonized the Americas, then it really would be a Latin America)

No it wasn't. The Roman technological base was pretty capable in many areas, but compared to 17th-century Europe they were overall well behind. Metallurgy, power generation, agriculture, chemistry, and most relevant for this what-if, ship construction and navigation. Roman construction methods were not suited for long ocean voyages in heavy seas, they flatly lacked the navigation equipment that made travel to the Americas possible, and they also lacked rudders.

It's not impossible that a sizeable fleet might survive getting blown clear across the Atlantic, but getting back is going to be very, very unlikely. More likely is the survivors staying and settling wherever they wind up, with legends of a lost Roman fleet their only legacy until Europeans start crossing consistently.

 

[NotAMyth]

What if Rome, for whatever reason, had some kind of expedition out west that led to them discovering the Americas? What might Roman America look like?

While this would happen way, way earlier than Columbus and sounds unlikely to happen, it's important to realize just how advanced the Romans were. Their technology was almost on par with the Colonial Era world a millennium later. Even if it's not the most likely scenario that Rome discovers America, it is a fun thing to consider. So what might this American extension of the Roman Empire be like, and how would it be governed? Think it would eventually become independent?

Let me know what you think.

(also, funny note: If Rome colonized the Americas, then it really would be a Latin America)

Romans never undertook conquest for conquest's sake. Even at it's height, it's leaders were very conscious of what could area could be held, without it becoming a net drain on resources. The best example we have is that of Hadrian, who let go of the richer Mesopotamian conquests of Trajan, but held on to the Dacian conquests because of the mines in the region that could pay for an occupation. OTL Hispanic push for colonization happened due to a myriad variety of factors, pertaining to the specific economic and geopolitical considerations of these kingdoms.

If really we look at it, the New World doesn't have anything to entice Romans to really colonize beyond a few trade posts perhaps- They already pretty much controlled everything that they could control effectively. And it's not like there was that severe a bullion shortage.

And even if they tried, there is no guarantee they would succeed in carving out a new world empire. If we are talking about them at their height, they don't have the plague, the Cavalry or the gunpowder- the three things which absolutely devastated the native polities and allowed a few thousand spaniards to basically walk over millions of people.

Realistically the maximum they would go for is an armed trading colony- Maybe something like Hispaniola.

 

[Mad Bad Rabbit]

Also, what economic motive would they have to keep coming back? No gold or tin mines on East coast. Cod fishing, maybe, or salt islands in the Bahamas?

 

[Lalli]

Really implausible that Romans would find Americas. Their ships weren't suited to ocean cross and them hadn't any reason to do that. Even if some trade ship manage accidentally end to Americas it probably can't find back. And even if it can and report new land to emperor and senate they don't give for that any shit. Romans had already enough of land, resources and good trade routes to east. Furthermore it would be hellish expensive go and colonise New World speciality when them have not technology for effective ocean travel. So not reason and not cabacity for such thing.

 

[Light Jammings]

The Romans don't have the technology, and even if they somehow get to the Americas it will be a huge pain to supply it. Also why cross to the end of the world when you got enough resources at home?

 

[mial42]

What if Rome, for whatever reason, had some kind of expedition out west that led to them discovering the Americas? What might Roman America look like?

While this would happen way, way earlier than Columbus and sounds unlikely to happen, it's important to realize just how advanced the Romans were. Their technology was almost on par with the Colonial Era world a millennium later. Even if it's not the most likely scenario that Rome discovers America, it is a fun thing to consider. So what might this American extension of the Roman Empire be like, and how would it be governed? Think it would eventually become independent?

Let me know what you think.

(also, funny note: If Rome colonized the Americas, then it really would be a Latin America)

It really wasn't. The only areas where Roman technology was comparable or better than that of 16th-18th century Europe related to "large scale" technology requiring the coordination of more than one community via bureaucracy, as in aqueducts or urban sanitation, because those were lost* when the social machinery of the Roman Empire broke down. In just about everything related to technology that one community could put together, like metallurgy and agriculture (not to mention gunpowder weapons), there were huge improvements during the Middle Ages, and crucially for reaching the Americas, shipbuilding and navigation improved immensely.
*Well, mostly.

 

[Swedish luck]

Why though? I feel like Rome would see the advantage of an overseas colony to draw resources far, expand their reach and improve the strength of their empire.

Because Rome is not a seafaring nation and makes way more sense to try to conquer parts of Germania or Mesopotamia as this must be done when the empire has money which was during its early days. Then there is the logistical nightmare which is to support the colonies with the bad seafaring technologies which exist and nothing is stoping some dude in the colonies to just declare himself emperor of the colonies and take everything you invested in.

 

[Otto Kretschmer]

An idea just occured to me that there may be a Roman colony established somewhere in West Africa that may be more interested in seafaring.

It may be established quite early in Rome's history and it would not be Rome technically

A Roman colony on the Canary Islands should also be quite independent and may develop a seafaring tradition

 

[Pauh the federalist]

If the romans for whatever reason decided to waste resources colonising the coast of west Africa instead of meny of thier other expensive half success (subjugation of Britannia, attempted invasion of germania capturing the persian fronter.) West Africa would ultimately be a heavy cash sink but would make it a whole lot easier to reach the amaricas by jumping to Brazil with existing naval tech, the only other route at this time without a naval wank is the later north Atlantic island hopping rought from the north sea to Iceland, Greenland and then canada.

 

[Reflection]

Yeah, ok. I knew that this wasn't the most likely of scenarios. But come on... you have to admit that a timeline where Rome colonizes America is pretty intriguing. Just imagine something like New York City, but it's Rome? Just imagine what an American offshoot of the Roman Empire might be like in both similarities and differences? That's why I had to ask.

 

[The Tai-Pan]

Who says they didn't? Real history is hidden from the masses.

What do you mean by this?

 

[stevej713]

I think an accidental discovery of America before the advent of deep water ocean exploration is simply not plausible. To quote an old post:

We need to realize that if a vessel originating from the Roman Empire is out in the vicinity of the Canaries, it will NOT be a trireme loaded with legionaries and rowers. Instead, it would likely be a trading vessel like an oneraria, a corbita, or something smaller, probably North African in origin (as Juba II is known to have sent an expedition there and Roman amphorae have been discovered near the coast).

It is theoretically possible for a trading vessel to blow off course near the Canaries - the prevailing winds begin to blow southwest towards the Equator at 30 degrees North, and the Canary current flows south/southwest. If the boat is fully stocked with supplies, they could possibly make it to Brazil - it would take roughly 30 days for a non-motorized sail boat to reach Brazil from Western Africa. However, why would the crew of this boat decide not to fight the current/winds and allow themselves to be blown out to sea? Without having any knowledge of the Americas and without having a deliberate plan (like Columbus who wanted to reach E. Asia) , this would be suicide. Any crew still in possession of their mental faculties would do everything they could to change course and sail north, out of the equatorial winds.

Yeah, ok. I knew that this wasn't the most likely of scenarios. But come on... you have to admit that a timeline where Rome colonizes America is pretty intriguing. Just imagine something like New York City, but it's Rome? Just imagine what an American offshoot of the Roman Empire might be like in both similarities and differences? That's why I had to ask.

An accidental Roman discovery of America is implausible to the extreme, but theoretically possible. Roman cities on the Atlantic Seaboard, on the other hand, is simply ASB. Rome did not have the means or motivation to stimulate global oceanic exploration and trade more than 1000 years early. The Age of Exploration was preceded by a vast constellation of factors, hardly any of which were present in the Classical Era.

 

[Jan Olbracht]

For Romans the only motive to go to Americas would be political one, so either Carthaginians or Roman leader defeated in civil war seemingly escaped to the other side of Atlantic and Rome must find and destroy them.