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Ancient Rome
By:
Andres Delarosa, Brian Wawro, Christian
Gustafson, Michael Niewinski
Rise of the Romans
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It is said that the Roman Empire began when Romulus killed Remus, to be king. Soon after Romulus killed
his brother, he founded the a small village, called Rome.
Rome was built on seven hills near the center of the Italian Peninsula. From 1000-500 B.C., There were
three groups in Italy:
The Latins- They build Rome, and were the first Romans.
The Greeks- From 750-600 B.C. They established colonies along the southern tip of Italy and Sicily. The
cities were prosperous and commercially active. They also brought the Greek culture to the Romans.
The Etruscans- In 600 B.C., and Etruscan became King of Rome. The village of Rome grew into a city by
expanding by 500 square miles, and by having some temples built.
In 509 B.C., The Romans overthrew the King Tarquin the Proud. Swearing NEVER to have a king again,
by establishing a Republic.
The Roman Republic
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Early on, The Republic had two groups. The Plebeians, who were basically commoners, and the Patricians,
who were the Rich. The Patricians had most of the power in the senate, but the Plebeians had no power. The
Plebeians demanded the right to vote, so the Senate gave them the Tribunes, basically Plebeians that could
represent them.
The Republic also had two people called Consuls, they are basically like kings, they commanded the army,
and controlled the government. Although their power was limited, by a One year term, and the ability of the
Consuls to Veto each other.
The Senate was the main governing body of Rome, they made the laws. It had 300 members of the Upper
class of Rome. Later on The Plebeians were added into it.
Also in emergencies the Senate could elect a dictator, who had absolute power, for the purpose of protecting
Rome and it’s people. The catch was that when Rome was safe and the people were safe, You had to step
down.
Conquest of Italy/Punic Wars
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The Roman power was small at first, but slowly it grew steadily as the legions battled for control of the
Peninsula. By 265 B.C., the Romans basically controlled Italy. Rome used different laws and different
treatments for conquered people and territories. In Territories father from Rome, they didn’t have the right
to vote, but had basic rights. Everyone else conquered were treated like allies of Rome, as long as they
supplied the military with troops, and stayed loyal with Rome ONLY.
The location of Rome gave it a perfect position for trade. They traded wine and olive oil for food, raw
materials, and manufactured goods from other empires. But with Rome’s power rising, it wouldn’t be long
before they clashed with other empires.
In 264 B.C. Rome went to war with Carthage in the first of three. In the First war, They fought for the
control of the western Mediterranean and Sicily, and by establishing a Navy that basically rams other ships
allowing for hand to hand combat, they defeated the Carthaginians. It lasted 23 years.
In 218 B.C. The second war began. A Carthaginian general named Hannibal wanted revenge on the Romans
for his defeat. He assembled 50,000 infantry, 9,000 cavalry, and 60 war elephants. He figured the Romans
would expect him to sail straight into Italy, so he went through Spain, and crossed through more of Europe,
until he arrived at the Alps. He crossed them, losing a lot of his war elephants, but he made it across. The
Romans were caught off guard and couldn’t hold against Hannibal. Their worst defeat was at the battle of
Cannae, and Hannibal after winning at Cannae, basically just marched up and down the peninsula raiding
the Romans. Finally a man named Scipio comes along and takes the Roman Legions, and attacks Carthage
at Zama. He uses the same tactic the Carthaginians used at Cannae. He wins the battle, and wins the war.
In the Third War in 146 B.C., The Romans destroy Carthage for good.
Conquest of Europe
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By 146 B.C. The Romans had expanded their borders to include:
Most of Modern Day Spain, and ALL of Modern Day Portugal.
The Alps, Macedonia, Greece, and Carthage.
About 92 years later Julius Caesar started a brutal campaign to conquer Gaul (Modern day France), He
succeeded by gaining the loyalty.
Later Britain up to Scotland, was conquered, included, parts of Germany, Hungary. A kingdom called
Dacia, and a little bit of Russia.
Fall of the Republic, Rise of the Empire.
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Starting with a huge division between the Rich landowners, and the farmers. There was a lot of Economic
turmoil. Farmers found it hard to compete with the rich landowners and became homeless and jobless. A
motion to help them failed and resulted in Civil War.
The Generals gathered their legions about them, and started to fight each other for control
3 men, Julius Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus, worked together in a Triumvirate in order to restore order to
Rome. Crassus was pressured by both to step down, so he did. Leaving Pompey and Caesar to fight for
Power. Caesar worked for one ear as a Consul, then went off to Gaul, and conquered it. His Success won
the hearts and respect of many of the Romans.
But Pompey had the senate order Caesar to disband his legions and never return, but Julius defied that and
conquered Rome. In 44 B.C., the Senate named him Dictator for life. He had absolute Power. He gave full
citizenship to many of those who didn’t have it before, and he expanded the Senate.
March 15th 44 B.C., Marcus Brutus, and Gaius Cassius, led many important Senators into the Senate, where
they assasinated Caesar. E tu Brute?
After ANOTHER Civil War, Caesar’s nephew, Octavian, battled with Mark Antony to fight for control of
Rome. In 31 B.C. at the famous Naval Battle of Actium, Octavian defeated the Powerful Legions of
Antony, and Antony’s ally Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt.
Octavian returned to Rome, and reformed the government by bringing back some ideas from the republic.
Soon after he became the unchallenged Ruler of the Roman empire. He took the name Augustus (“exalted
one”), and he kept the title Imperator, or supreme military commander, which is where emperor derives
from.
Rise of Christianity
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Later on, the Romans conquered the Land of Israel. There they met fierce resistance by the Israelites, but
they defeated them, and attempted to secure Israel and maintain peace
In 6-4 B.C. Jesus of Nazareth was born, he was a carpenter/prophet, supposedly the son of god. He went
around preaching peace and monotheism, and one thing the Romans laughed at, that everyone should love
their enemies. Many poor people liked his messages, because his teachings supported the poor.
The Jews and the Romans had Jesus crucified. It was said later that he was appearing alive to the disciples
telling them to spread the “good news.” The religion spread across the empire despite political opposition.
Some emperors persecuted Christians by publicly humiliating them, and executing them, but that didn’t
stop the faith from growing.
Finally Constantine, a roman fighting for control of the empire, saw a vision of a cross in the sky. He
ordered all his legions to draw crosses on their shields, and they won the battle. When he took the throne, he
decreed that Christianity was a religion excepted throughout the empire.
Fall of the Empire
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There are a few theories surrounding the fall of the Roman empire, the first of which, is economic turmoil.
It is believed that the Roman empire ran out of gold and silver, pirates were attacking the trade routes, the
government raising taxes, and inflation killed the empire.
Agriculture could have been a downfall because the land was overworked, because they were constantly
growing food on the same fields.
The Military also could have caused the downfall. The legions grew more loyal to their generals instead of
Rome, they became less disciplined as well. The empire started recruiting mercenaries, which were only
loyal to the Highest bidder.
Many Roman Citizens lost their faith in the empire, they used to care so much for the republic, that they
would give there life for it, but the change in conditions is what made that harder.
Another Theory is that when Constantine moved the capital to Byzantium, it probably cause a lot of
confusion, and when he added a religion that was being persecuted to his own people to an excepted
Religion list.
It is possible that lead water pipes may have caused the downfall of the Roman Empire, because of the Lead
getting in the Drinking Water.
We know for sure though, that the direct cause of the fall of Rome is Barbarian invasions. Which ended in
the fall and plundering of Rome.
Impact of the Roman Empire
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The Roman Empire had a few powerful impacts:
They started the Roman Catholic Church, which was the main unifying force in Europe for another 1,000
years.
They had their own art style that became famous, they were called mosaics.
They were well known for fusing their culture with the Greek culture.
They had a many great poets, the greatest being Ovid, a love poet, and Virgil, who wrote the Aeneid.
The Romans developed the language Latin, and a strong system of law, and a legal system.
They also were master architects, they built huge bridges, and Aqueducts, which basically brought water to
the Roman Cities.
Unique Characteristics of the Roman Empire
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Some unique Characteristics of the Roman Empire were:
They built the largest empire in the west.
Created the Roman Catholic Church.
It’s Eastern half, later called the Byzantine Empire, was one of the longest lasting empires in history.
One of the few civilizations to have Gladiator games
It’s language lasted 2000 years, used mainly by the Catholic Church
Important Leaders (Political & Military)
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Some major military and political leaders of Rome were:
Romulus-Founder of Rome
Tarquin the Proud- The Last King of Rome
Scipio- Defeated Hannibal at Zama
Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus- Tried to make a movement in the Senate to help the Plebeians
Julius Caesar- Dictator of Rome for life, helped establish the empire
Octavian/Augustus- Caesar’s grandnephew, Defeated Antony, and Cleopatra at Actium. First Emperor of
Rome
Diocletian- Attempted to reform Rome in times of trouble to help slow the fall of the empire
Constantine- Moved the Capital to Byzantium, and Established Christianity as one of the Main religions of
Rome.
Important Enemies
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Some important enemies of Rome:
Hannibal- Carthaginian Commander, First to ever cross the Alps with Elephants. Defeated the Romans at
Cannae.
Cleopatra- Queen of Egypt, Lover of Antony, Defeated at Actium.
Mark Antony- Lover of Cleopatra, Defeated by Octavian at Actium
The Jews- made it hard for the Romans to control Israel, and their holdings in that region, by disrupting
their forces. They were like a thorn in the Roman’s side. Their rebellion was broken up by the Dispora,
which was the Jews getting seperated throughout the empire.
Atila the Hun- King of the Huns, almost made it to Rome, but died before it happened. The Hun invasion
cleared the way for more Germanic Tribes to attack.
Visigoths, Successfully Sacked Rome. A Germanic Tribe
Other Germanic Tribes- Pretty much all the Germanic tribes gave the Romans hell. They were the main
cause of the downfall of Rome.