But Pope Gregory XI decided to put an end to such a dependent situation. On January 17 , 1377 , accompanied by 13 cardinals , he moved to The Vatican. Today, the Vatican is a tiny state within a state. Its area is only 44 hectares. It is located in Rome on the Mante Vaticano hill, has its own flag, anthem and government, Academy of Sciences, as well as its own newspaper and radio station. For many centuries, the Vatican has been the center of the Catholic Church in the world and the residence of the Pope. Division of the Roman Empire into Eastern and Western The era of the Roman Empire, which is one of the most important periods in the history of Ancient Rome, began in 27 BC. It was a period of the greatest expansion of borders and the achievement of the highest prosperity in various spheres of life.
