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Ancient Rome

Learn more about Ancient Rome.

Ancient Roman Empire
753BC - 393AD
The Birth of Rome
The Roman Empire lasted for over a thousand years and can be considered the greatest empire of all times. Spreading from the Middle East to Britain, from the North of Germany to the depths of Africa, the Roman Empire was a magnificent achievement.
The political history of Rome is marked by three periods. In the first period from 753-510 BC, the city developed from a village to a city ruled by kings. Then, after the Romans expelled the kings, they established the Roman Republic during the period from 509-27 BC. Following the collapse of the republic, Rome fell under the domination of emperors and flourished for another five centuries as the Roman Empire from 27 BC-AD 393.

Period of Kings (753-510 BC)
Their conservative government consisted of a kingship, resembling the traditional values of the patriarchal family; an assembly, composed of male citizens of military age; and a Senate, comprised of elders who serve as the heads of different community sects.

By 600BC, the Etruscans, believed to be natives of Asia Minor, establish cities stretching from northern to central Italy. Their major contributions to the Romans are the arch and the vault, gladiatorial combat for entertainment and the study of animals to predict future events. The Greeks establish city-states along the southern coast of Italy and the island of Sicily. Their contributions to the Romans are the basis of the Roman alphabet, many religious concepts and artistic talent as well as mythology.

The Republic (509-27BC)
In 509BC,.the Roman monarchy is overthrown and replaced with a republic. For more than two centuries following the establishment of the Roman Republic, Rome is constantly at war with the other inhabitants of Italy (the Etruscans and the Greeks).

Roman Empire (27BC-393AD)
With its borders secure and a stable central government, the Roman Empire enjoyed a period of prosperity, technological advance, great achievements in the arts, and flourishing trade and commerce. Under Caligula, much time and revenues were devoted to extravagant games and spectacles, while under Claudius, the empire, and especially Italy and Rome itself, benefited from the emperor's administrative reforms and enthusiasm for public works programs. Imperial expansion brought about colonization, urbanization, and extension of Roman citizenship in the provinces. The succeeding emperor, Nero, was a connoisseur and patron of the arts. He also extended the frontiers of the empire. The Julio-Claudian dynasty "came to an inglorious end with Nero's suicide in 68 A.D."