[lds23]

Not so sure about "empire", per se. Much like the Pax Romana, I see it more as a spreading of democracy and democratic (small "d") principles.

[moneyrunner]

There is nothing inherently wrong with an empire. European imperialism had it's bad points, but it also introduced civilization to Africa, introduced modern medicine, abolished slavery, ended cannibalism and left behind modern government. Unfortunately, a great many of the reforms did not hold when the Europeans departed.