Download How Rome Began - WordPress.com

How Rome Began
Words in bold italics are in the glossary on the next page.
The founding of Rome
Legends
No one knows when or how Rome was founded. In the first
century BC, a Roman scholar by the name of Varro settled
on the date 21 April 753 BC. This has become the
traditionally accepted date of Rome’s beginning (Cavendish
2003). Archaeologists think the small settlements on the
Roman hills might have been around even earlier, possibly
from the ‘tenth century BC’ (Cavendish 2003).
Different legends or stories tell how Rome began. The legends
form part of Rome’s history and cultural background.
One legend says that twin brothers Romulus and Remus
founded Rome. Their mother was human but their father was
the war god, Mars. Their uncle, Amulius, was jealous and
wanted to be king. He got rid of the king who was his brother,
and he had Romulus and Remus thrown into the Tiber River.
But Romulus and Remus survived. They washed up on the
shore and a she-wolf suckled them, looking after them until a
shepherd and his wife found them.
Romulus and Remus liked to fight. As they grew up, they were
leaders of a ‘band of young shepherd warriors’ (History.com).
When they found out the truth about their uncle, Romulus and
Remus killed Amulius. They made their grandfather king again.
Romulus and Remus decided to build a city at the place where
the she-wolf rescued them. But, after an argument, Romulus
killed Remus. Romulus went on to build Rome on his own.
Ancient Rome (www.freeimages.com)
Another legend says that Aeneas founded Rome with a woman
named Roma. They were fleeing the city of Troy after it was
destroyed and came to the Tiber River. Greek historians
believe this happened ‘in the fifth century BC’. (History.com)
Early Rome
Glossary of Terms
Rome was easy to get to from the sea. It was in a good
location for trading. It was easy to defend in war and it had
natural water springs. (Cavendish 2003). The Greeks brought
literacy, religion and an understanding of architecture to Rome
(Mark 2009).
Word
archaeologists
Definition
(noun) – scientists who study past
human life by looking at bones, tools
and items from long ago
cultural
(adjective) – relating to a group of
people’s beliefs, habits or lifestyle
As Rome grew, the people became greedy. They did whatever
they could to be rich and powerful. Three men came together
to rule Rome, forming a type of government called a
Triumvirate. The men’s names were Marcus Licinius Crassus,
Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus and Gaius Julius Caesar. They
wanted success and power. Julius Caesar later become
dictator of Rome but was killed because of his power.
dictator
(noun) – a person who rules in total
authority often in a cruel way
Emperor
(noun) – a man who rules an empire (a
large area of land)
founded
(verb) – meaning established or began
Marcus Antonious (Mark Antony), Gaius Octavius Thurinus
(Octavian) and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus formed the second
Triumvirate. These men also wanted success and power. Mark
Antony and Octavian sent Lepidus away to rule other countries.
Octavian then became sole ruler of Rome when he defeated
Mark Antony and his partner Cleopatra VII in battle.
historians
(noun) - writers or experts on history
suckled
(verb) – past tense of ‘suckle’ which
means to give milk from the breast or
udder
Troy
(proper noun) – an ancient city in what
was possibly Turkey
Early Politics in Rome
Octavian changed his name to Augustus and became the first
Emperor of Rome. It is at this point that historians say that the
Roman Empire begins (Mark 2009).
References:



History.com Staff, A+E Networks 2009, April 21, 753 B.C: Rome Founded, History.com, viewed 22 January 2017 ˂ http://history.com/this-day-in-history/rome-founded ˃
Cavendish, R ‘The Foundation of Rome’, History Today Volume 53 issue 4 April 2003, viewed 22 January 2017 ˂ http://www.historytoday.com/richard-cavendish/foundation-rome ˃
Mark, J ‘Ancient Rome’ Ancient History Encyclopedia last modified 2 September 2009, viewed 22 January 2017 ˂ http://www.ancient.eu/Rome/ ˃