Ancient Rome: Facts, Location, & Timeline

Overview

• Ancient Rome grew from a small town on the Tiber River into a vast empire.
• At its peak, it encompassed most of Europe, Britain, western Asia, northern Africa, and the Mediterranean.
• Rome's legacies include Romance languages, the Western alphabet, calendar, and Christianity.

Origins of Rome

• Foundation Legend: Rome was founded in 753 B.C. by Romulus and Remus, twins of Mars.
  • Raised by a she-wolf and later founded Rome.
  • Romulus became the first king after killing Remus.
• Governed by seven legendary kings, the last being Lucius Tarquinius Superbus.
• Transitioned from monarchy to republic in 509 B.C.

The Early Republic

• Power shifted to elected magistrates (consuls) and the Senate.
• Political conflict between patricians and plebeians, leading to plebeian political bodies.
• The Twelve Tables were Rome's first law code, inscribed in 450 B.C.

Military Expansion

• Rome expanded throughout the Italian peninsula by 264 B.C.
• Punic Wars: Rome fought Carthage, gaining full control over Sicily, the Mediterranean, and Spain.
• Rome's culture was influenced by the Greeks through conquests.

Internal Struggles in the Late Republic

• Social hierarchy tensions, with attempts at reform failing, leading to violence.
• Rise of warlords like Gaius Marius and Sulla.

Julius Caesar's Rise

• Caesar formed the First Triumvirate with Pompey and Crassus.
• Caesar's conquest of Gaul, crossing the Rubicon, led to civil war and his dictatorship in 45 B.C.

From Caesar to Augustus

• Caesar was assassinated in 44 B.C.; power struggle led to the Second Triumvirate.
• Octavian emerged victorious, defeating Antony and Cleopatra, becoming the sole ruler.
• In 27 B.C., Octavian became Augustus, the first emperor.

Age of the Roman Emperors

• Augustus initiated the Pax Romana, a period of peace and prosperity.
• Subsequent emperors included Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero.
• Another golden age occurred under emperors like Trajan and Hadrian.

Decline and Disintegration

• Commodus' rule marked the end of the golden age.
• Civil wars and external threats plagued the empire.
• Constantine reunited the empire and moved the capital to Constantinople.
• Rome fell in 476 A.D. as the Western Empire collapsed under various pressures.

Roman Architecture

• Innovations like aqueducts, roads, and concrete had a lasting impact.
• Roman roads connected the vast empire, facilitating administration and trade.

Legacy

• Roman influence continues in modern language, law, engineering, and governance.