That's the neat part, it doesn't! Empire is always enforced with military occupation, even if sometimes that military occupation takes the form of so-called "police forces."
I just don't feel like that works in every case though. Rome conquered many places that still considered themselves Roman after the empire started to collapse. At some point they were just part of it.
At what point does something stop being a military occupation and just become integrated into an empire? genuine question.
That's the neat part, it doesn't! Empire is always enforced with military occupation, even if sometimes that military occupation takes the form of so-called "police forces."
I just don't feel like that works in every case though. Rome conquered many places that still considered themselves Roman after the empire started to collapse. At some point they were just part of it.
I'd say it's the point where hegemony instead of brute force works as the primary control mechanism.
I think that works pretty well, thanks.