Like more than a few Roman emperors, Hadrian liked to build things. Unlike those other emperors, though, he wasn’t too fussed about gaining more territory to build on. After he ascended to the highest position of power in the Roman empire in 117 CE, he quickly earned some disapproval when he halted the territorial expansion of his predecessor, preferring instead to develop and stabilise the vast territory he already had.

Being enamoured with Ancient Greece, and possessed of a spirit of boundless curiosity, Hadrian sought to model his empire on the panhellenic ideal, doing so through administrative reform and cultural patronage. He also travelled extensively throughout his reign, quelling rebellions and overseeing various constructions, including rebuilding the Parthenon (because Greece) and erecting Hadrian’s Wall in Britannia, marking the northern boundary of the Roman Empire.

Hadrian's reign is generally considered a period of relative prosperity in the Roman Empire, with later historians regarding him as one of the “Five Good Emperors”.