The Roman Empire was located primarily around the Mediterranean Basin. At its peak under Emperor Trajan in 117 AD, it spanned across a vast territory including most of continental Europe, North Africa, and parts of the Middle East. Its territory stretched from Britain in the northwest to the Black Sea in the northeast, from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Persian Gulf in the east, and southwards into Egypt and parts of the Arabian Peninsula. Modern countries within its former borders include Italy, Spain, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia, Israel, Jordan, and many more. The Empire's heart was the city of Rome, located in modern-day Italy.