During the eighth century B.C.E. a small Latin speaking community was established along the Tiber River in Italy called Rome. As time passed the community expanded its power and control until its control covered almost all of Italy around 264 B.C.E. To the Romans, their political abilities were just as important as their army’s strength. Their political system worked so well because, when they conquered smaller societies the Romans allowed the conquered societies to rule themselves. Rome would also grant citizenship to non-Romans so long as the conquered societies followed Roman law and met the requirements. The republic of Rome was ruled by an Aristocratic oligarchy. In the beginning the Romans had no desire to expand any further than the boundaries of their empire. As their relationships with their neighbors began to diminish new wars were the result. The first war the Romans waged was the Punic Wars in the west with the Carthaginian Empire in Spain and Africa. Once the Carthaginian Empire was conquered, Rome moved east and conquered Macedonia gaining control of the Greek peninsula. By 133 B.C.E. Rome had conquered the areas to the east and west and was considered to be the master of the Mediterranean Sea. Rome’s empire was built on religion and law. Both were held in high regard and controlled many of the decisions made in the Roman culture. Rituals taught the people how to appease their gods and were a focal point of the Roman religion. Monuments were built
The last of all the factors was religion. The Romans worshiped around 30,000 gods in all. These included the major gods and goddesses such as Jupiter, the chief god, Neptune, god of the sea, Venus, goddess of love and beauty, and Minerva, goddess of wisdom and war. Each household also worshipped their own protective spirits. After Caesar's death, the emperors were considered gods too. People all over the empire were allowed to worship their own local gods as long as they paid homage to the Roman gods. The people built large temples for worship of their different gods. They looked to the gods to help protect their families and lives. This also helped when going into battle. How could you not win with so many gods on your side? (Mahoney, 2001)
There were three Punic or Carthaginian Wars is Roman history. These were between 264 and 146 BC. These wars were the first great wars of Roman expansion outside Italy. The enemy of Rome had a large empire that stretched along the coast of North America and southern Spain and some parts of Sicily. This empire was known as Carthage. The purpose of these wars was to decide which power would become the dominant force around the Mediterranean Sea.
The Roman Republic began in 509 B.C.E. with the overthrow of the Etruscan monarchy. In 27 B.C.E the Roman Empire began with Octavian Caesar becoming the emperor, this ended almost 500 years of republican self-government. There is much debate over why Rome became so powerful so quickly. Many think it had to do with Rome’s military strength. Others think that it was because Rome knew of and controlled most of the trade routes. Still others believed it had to do with the technology that was advanced during the Roman Republic. All of these factors played significant roles, but which one played the most important role?
Rome at the beginning was just a small city built on hills, but soon enlarged to one of the largest empires around the world. Located in the middle of the Mediterranean, it was a prime spot for trade and was influenced by surrounding areas such as Greece. In ancient Rome, the city became a Republic and prospered as an Empire expanding to 3.5 million square miles at its height. As ancient Rome continued to grow from the Republic to the Empire between 509 BCE and 476 CE, culturally the acceptance of a new monotheistic religion, Christianity emerged, changing from the previous polytheistic religions and the army changed from a citizen soldier to a standing army. The continuous civil unrest of the poor due to the troubled economy remained throughout Rome’s period.
In 753 B.C.E the mythical brothers, Romulus and Remus, founded Rome on the River Tiber. Initially controlled by the Etruscans, this city state would gain independence from monarchist rule in 509 B.C.E. Through continual wars the Romans would gain control of the Italian peninsula and would finally fight a war against the Carthaginians for supremacy of the western Mediterranean. Through the strengths of its legions Rome would eventually dominate the social and political landscape of the Mediterranean by the second century B.C.E. that would ultimately create social upheaval and power struggles. In the first century B.C.E. powerful individuals had wreaked havoc and bloodshed across the extent of the vast area. Controlled by the city of Rome and
Ancient Rome in 338 BC had finally defeated the alliance between the Latin Cities, which then allowed her to gain control over Latium. From here she began forming alliances and conquered many states in Italy. Through the vital cooperation, attribution to military success by providing men for the Roman army, and protection that her allies offered, Rome’s boundaries were pushed further. Her expansion had spread from her immediate surrounding areas of the Mediterranean until her power stretched out both east, west and south of the actual city of Rome (149 BC). Therefore, Rome’s successful expansion is due to the loyalty of her allies.
The Rome’s were also known for being master builders creating many famous arches, domes and also creating a Latin Language. The Roman government was first a monarchy from years 600 B.C. to 509 B.C. Many citizens
Rome was founded, according to legend, in 753 BCE. It began as a monarchy, starting with the king, Romulus, a descendant of the earliest Roman, Aeneas. This system can, of course, be seen as a type of aristocracy, since the common people would never have been chosen as a successor for rule. After the revolution of Rome in 509 BCE, Rome became ‘democratic;’ that is that they now had more than just a king and now had voting assemblies made of the male citizens of Rome. These citizens now had legislative duties, could be more than just the people, and could now be a legitimate power in Roman society. However, when Augustus came into power, this ‘democratic’ system was effectively abolished, and Rome became an imperial system in everything but in name . This imperial system lasted until Rome fell in 476 CE .
There are many different religions within the world. From Judaism, to Hinduism, to even what the Egyptians believed. The greatest one to study though is definitely the Roman religion. From minotaurs to hydras to even the Gods. The Roman religion has so many interesting stories, such as how their nation came to be through Romulus and and Remus. There are many stories about sword fights and God’s intervening into their society. The Romans had many early beliefs such as being an Animistic society, meaning that they believed that spirits dwelled among the world that helped with their farming and harvesting, to the God’s, who they believed controlled their everyday life, but the fall of this fantastic religion was when Judaism and Christianity
Rome’s creation myth begins with the story of Romulus and Remus, the tragic story of twin brothers who were born into nobility, nearly killed as newborns, and who ultimately engage in conflict resulting the death of one and the founding of an empire by the other. Rome’s creation myth tells the story of a mythical leader who, against all odds, triumphs, and as he prevails, so does Rome.
The Roman Empire mapped themselves out by massive military campaigns throughout its existence. One particular series of wars was called “The Punic Wars.” The Punic Wars from 264 to 133 B.C.E waged against the Carthaginians were a three part conflict for control of key trade routes and the island Sicily. During the second Punic War, Rome came close to being conquered. Hannibal a Carthaginian general invaded Italy by traveling through the Alps, with it he destroyed several Roman cities marching his army towards the heart of the Roman
The fall of Rome was not an event that happened overnight. It was a series of events that led to the end of the roman empire.
The roman people started as a group of tribes ruled by a senate consisting of the fathers of the families (700 B.C.), with an elected king that commanded the army and performed certain religious rituals. There was also an assembly of all the roman citizens that could bear arms that was called the Comitia Curiata. The Comitia Curiata was the only assembly that could change laws, declare wars/peace, and confirm the election of kings. About a century later (~625 B.C.), Rome was divided into three different classes. There were the descendants of the original founders of rome, called Patricians. They were the only ones who had any power in the government. There were also Clients, who were free but had to serve a Patrician. They worked the fields
It is said that Rome was not built in a day. True. It took ambition, lust, murder and the unrivalled power of technology to make the Roman Empire span across three continents and many centuries. While the contributions of ambition, conquest and other political and militaristic factors remain important for the Roman Republic to transform into an Empire, none of this could have been possible without the immense contribution of engineering and technology. In this essay, we shall look into three engineering feats that I believe were crucial in building the Roman Empire. We shall be making use of the video “Rome: Engineering an Empire” as an aid towards the
Rome’s early government was essentially a democratic monarchy. It comprised a king, a senate (council of elders) and a Comitia Curiata – a form of general assembly reflecting the prevailing societal structure – which elected the king and gave him his powers (Morey, 1901, Chapter III). Late in the 6th century BC, it transitioned uneasily into an aristocratic republic. While the specific forms, offices and powers of the various governmental bodies evolved, often catalyzed by social conflict between the patrician and plebeian classes, it remained a tripartite set of mechanisms comprising the Magistrates and Consuls, Senate, and Assemblies and Tribunes (EmpireRome.com, n.d.).