See Also

Ancient Rome

Ancient Rome was a civilization Civilization

The word civilization has a variety of meanings related to human society [i]. ... 

 that grew out of the city-state of Rome Rome

Rome is the capital [i] of Italy [i] and of its region, called Latium [i]. ... 

, founded in the Italian Peninsula Italian Peninsula

The Italian Peninsula or Apennine Peninsula is one of the greatest peninsula [i]s of Europe [i], s ... 

 circa the 9th century BCE 9th century BC

----... 

. During its twelve-century existence, the Roman civilization shifted from a monarchy Monarchy

A monarchy, from the Greek [i] ????, "one," and a??e?? [i], "to rule", is ... 

 to an oligarchic republic Republic

In a broad definition, a republic is a state [i] or country [i] that is led by people whose political power [i] ... 

 to a vast empire Empire

What exactly constitutes an Empire is a topic of intense debate within the scholarly community.... 

. It came to dominate Western Europe Western Europe

Western Europe is mainly a socio-political concept coined [i], forged and used during the Cold War [i]. ... 

 and the entire area surrounding the Mediterranean Sea Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean Sea is a part of the Atlantic Ocean [i] almost completely enclosed by land: on the nor ... 

 through conquest Invasion

An invasion is a military [i] action consisting of armed forces [i] of one geopolitical [i] ... 

 and assimilation. Nonetheless, a number of factors led to the eventual decline of the Roman Empire Decline of the Roman Empire

The decline of the Roman Empire, also called the fall of the Roman Empire, is a historical [i] ... 

. The western half of the empire Western Roman Empire

The Western Roman Empire is the name given to the western half of the Roman Empire [i] after its divisio ... 

, including Hispania Hispania

Hispania was the name given by the Romans [i] to the whole of the Iberian Peninsula [i] and ... 

, Gaul Gaul

Gaul was the name given, in ancient times, to the region of Western Europe [i] comprising present-day n ... 

, and Italy, eventually broke into independent kingdoms in the 5th century 5th century

The 5th century is the period from 401 [i] - 500 [i] in accordance with the Julian calendar [i] in the Christian Era [i] ... 

; the eastern empire, governed from Constantinople Constantinople

Constantinople was the capital of the Byzantine Empire [i] and following its fall in 1453 [i], of the O ... 

, is usually referred to as the Byzantine Empire Byzantine Empire

Byzantine Empire is the term conventionally used since the 19th century [i] to describe the Greek-spea ... 

 after

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Timeline

501 BC   In response to threats by the Sabines Sabine

The tribe of the Sabines was an Italic [i] tribe of ancient Italy [i]. ... 

, Rome Ancient Rome

Ancient Rome was a civilization [i] that grew out of the city-state [i] of Rome [i], founded in the Italian Peninsula [i] ... 

 creates the office of dictator.

8   Roman Ancient Rome

Ancient Rome was a civilization [i] that grew out of the city-state [i] of Rome [i], founded in the Italian Peninsula [i] ... 

 poet Ovid Ovid

Publius Ovidius Naso , a Roman [i] poet known to the English [i]-speaking ... 

 is banished from Rome Rome

Rome is the capital [i] of Italy [i] and of its region, called Latium [i]. ... 

 and exiled to the Black Sea Black Sea

The Black Sea is an inland sea [i] between southeastern Europe [i] and Anatolia [i] that is actually a d ... 

 near Tomis Constanta

oat of arms=Seal of Constanta.gif| ... 

 (present-day Constanta Constanta

oat of arms=Seal of Constanta.gif| ... 

).

11   Augustus abandons his plan to create a defensive border at the Elbe Elbe

The River Elbe is one of the major waterways of Central Europe [i]. ... 

, in order to reinforce the Roman Ancient Rome

Ancient Rome was a civilization [i] that grew out of the city-state [i] of Rome [i], founded in the Italian Peninsula [i] ... 

 defence along the Rhine Rhine

The Rhine River is one of the longest and most important river [i]s in Europe [i] at 1,320 kilometres [i] ... 

 and the Danube Danube

The Danube is the longest river [i] of the European Union [i] and Europe [i]'s second-longest . ... 

.

23   Greek geographer Geographer

A geographer is a scientist [i] whose area of study is geography [i], the study of Earth [i]'s physical ... 

 Strabo Strabo

Strabo was a historian [i], geographer [i] and philosopher [i]. ... 

 publishes ''Geography'', a work covering the world known to the Romans Ancient Rome

Ancient Rome was a civilization [i] that grew out of the city-state [i] of Rome [i], founded in the Italian Peninsula [i] ... 

 and Greeks History of Greece

This article covers the Greek civilization.... 

 at the time of Emperor Augustus - it is the only such book to survive from the ancient world.

34   Construction of a three tier Roman Ancient Rome

Ancient Rome was a civilization [i] that grew out of the city-state [i] of Rome [i], founded in the Italian Peninsula [i] ... 

 aqueduct Aqueduct

An aqueduct is an artificial channel that is constructed to convey water from one location to another.... 

 beginning in Nimes and running for 269 miles.

49   The spread of Christianity Christianity

Christianity is a monotheistic [i] religion [i] centered on Jesus of Nazareth [i] ... 

 into Europe Europe

Europe is one of the seven traditional continent [i]s of the Earth [i]. ... 

, especially at Rome Ancient Rome

Ancient Rome was a civilization [i] that grew out of the city-state [i] of Rome [i], founded in the Italian Peninsula [i] ... 

 and at Philippia (according to Saint Paul Paul of Tarsus

Paul of Tarsus, also known as Paul the Apostle [i] or Saint Paul , is widely considered to b ... 

).

70   Expedition by the Roman Ancient Rome

Ancient Rome was a civilization [i] that grew out of the city-state [i] of Rome [i], founded in the Italian Peninsula [i] ... 

 Septimius Flaccus in the South of Egypt. He probably reaches Sudan Sudan

Sudan is the largest country [i] by area in Africa [i], situated in Northern Africa [i]. ... 

.

147   Beginning of festivals to celebrate the 900th anniversary of the founding of Rome Ancient Rome

Ancient Rome was a civilization [i] that grew out of the city-state [i] of Rome [i], founded in the Italian Peninsula [i] ... 

.

410   Visigoth Visigoth

The Visigoths were one of two main branches of the Goths [i], an East Germanic tribe [i] . ... 

s' sack of Rome Ancient Rome

Ancient Rome was a civilization [i] that grew out of the city-state [i] of Rome [i], founded in the Italian Peninsula [i] ... 

 ends. They depart with countless valuables, including spoils of the Temple in Jerusalem Temple in Jerusalem

The Temple in Jerusalem or the Holy Temple was built in ancient Jerusalem [i] in the 10th century BCE [i] ... 

 brought to Rome Rome

Rome is the capital [i] of Italy [i] and of its region, called Latium [i]. ... 

 by Titus. This marks the first time since 390 BC that Rome Rome

Rome is the capital [i] of Italy [i] and of its region, called Latium [i]. ... 

 had been sacked.

411   The Alans Alans

The Alans or Alani were an Iran [i]ian nomadic group among the Sarmatian [i] people, w ... 

 establish their rule in the Roman Ancient Rome

Ancient Rome was a civilization [i] that grew out of the city-state [i] of Rome [i], founded in the Italian Peninsula [i] ... 

 province Roman province

In Ancient Rome [i], a province was the basic, and until the Tetrarchy [i], largest territorial and admi ... 

 of Lusitania Lusitania

Lusitania was an ancient Roman [i] province [i] approximately including curr ... 

 (modern Portugal Portugal

Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic is located in southwestern Europe [i] on the Iberian Peninsula [i] ... 

 south of the Douro River Douro

The Douro or Duero is one of the major river [i]s of the Iberian Peninsula [i], flowing from its s ... 

 and Spanish Spain

Spain, officially the Kingdom of Spain , is a Europe [i]an parliamentary monarchy [i]. ... 

 Extremadura Extremadura

Extremadura is an autonomous community [i] of western Spain [i]. ... 

).

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Encyclopedia


Ancient Rome was a civilization Civilization

The word civilization has a variety of meanings related to human society [i]. ... 

 that grew out of the city-state of Rome Rome

Rome is the capital [i] of Italy [i] and of its region, called Latium [i]. ... 

, founded in the Italian Peninsula Italian Peninsula

The Italian Peninsula or Apennine Peninsula is one of the greatest peninsula [i]s of Europe [i], s ... 

 circa the 9th century BCE 9th century BC

----... 

. During its twelve-century existence, the Roman civilization shifted from a monarchy Monarchy

A monarchy, from the Greek [i] ????, "one," and a??e?? [i], "to rule", is... 

 to an oligarchic republic Republic

In a broad definition, a republic is a state [i] or country [i] that is led by people whose political power [i] ... 

 to a vast empire Empire

What exactly constitutes an Empire is a topic of intense debate within the scholarly community.... 

. It came to dominate Western Europe Western Europe

Western Europe is mainly a socio-political concept coined [i], forged and used during the Cold War [i]. ... 

 and the entire area surrounding the Mediterranean Sea Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean Sea is a part of the Atlantic Ocean [i] almost completely enclosed by land: on the nor... 

 through conquest Invasion

An invasion is a military [i] action consisting of armed forces [i] of one geopolitical [i] ... 

 and assimilation. Nonetheless, a number of factors led to the eventual decline of the Roman Empire Decline of the Roman Empire

The decline of the Roman Empire, also called the fall of the Roman Empire, is a historical [i]... 

. The western half of the empire Western Roman Empire

The Western Roman Empire is the name given to the western half of the Roman Empire [i] after its divisio ... 

, including Hispania Hispania

Hispania was the name given by the Romans [i] to the whole of the Iberian Peninsula [i] and... 

, Gaul Gaul

Gaul was the name given, in ancient times, to the region of Western Europe [i] comprising present-day n ... 

, and Italy, eventually broke into independent kingdoms in the 5th century 5th century

The 5th century is the period from 401 [i] - 500 [i] in accordance with the Julian calendar [i] in the Christian Era [i]... 

; the eastern empire, governed from Constantinople Constantinople

Constantinople was the capital of the Byzantine Empire [i] and following its fall in 1453 [i], of the O ... 

, is usually referred to as the Byzantine Empire Byzantine Empire

Byzantine Empire is the term conventionally used since the 19th century [i] to describe the Greek-spea ... 

 after 476, the traditional date for the "fall of Rome" and subsequent onset of the Middle Ages Middle Ages

The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history [i] ... 

.

Roman civilization is often grouped into "classical antiquity Classical antiquity

Classical antiquity is a broad term for a long period of cultural history [i] centered on the Mediterranean Sea [i] ... 

" with ancient Greece Ancient Greece

Ancient Greece is the period in Greek history [i] which lasted for around one thousand years and ended w ... 

, a civilization that inspired much of the culture of ancient Rome Culture of ancient Rome

Ancient Roman [i] culture [i] evolved throughout the almost 1200-year history of that civilization [i]... 

. Ancient Rome contributed greatly to the development of law Law

Law is the set of rules or norms [i] of conduct which forbid, permit or mandate specified actions... 

, war War

War is a conflict involving the organized use of weapon [i]s and physical force by state [i]s or other l ... 

, art Art

By its original and broadest definition, art is the product or process of the effective application... 

, literature Literature

Literature is literally "acquaintance with letters" as in the first sense given in the Oxford English Dictionary [i] ... 

, architecture Architecture

* Architectural history [i]
  • Architectural mythology [i]

... 

, technology Technology

Despite its cultural pervasiveness, technology is an elusive concept.... 

 and language Language

A language is a system [i] of [i]s, such as voice sounds, gestures or written symbol [i]... 

 in the Western world Western world

The term Western World or "the West" can have multiple meanings depending on its context.... 

, and its history History of Rome

The History of Rome [i] spans 2,800 years of the existence of a city that grew from a small Italian [i] ... 

 continues to have a major influence on the world today.

History

Further information: History of Rome History of Rome

The History of Rome [i] spans 2,800 years of the existence of a city that grew from a small Italian [i] ... 

 and Timeline of ancient Rome


Monarchy




The city of Rome Rome

Rome is the capital [i] of Italy [i] and of its region, called Latium [i]. ... 

 grew from settlements around a ford on the river Tiber Tiber

The Tiber , the third-longest river [i] in Italy [i] at 406 km after the Po [i] and the Adige [i] ... 

, a crossroads of traffic and trade. According to archaeological Archaeology

Archaeology, archeology, or archology is the study of human [i] culture [i]s through... 

 evidence, the village of Rome was probably founded sometime in the 9th century BCE 9th century BC

----... 

 by members of two central Italian tribes, the Latins and the Sabine Sabine

The tribe of the Sabines was an Italic [i] tribe of ancient Italy [i]. ... 

s, on the Palatine Palatine Hill

The Palatine Hill is the centermost of the seven hills of Rome [i] and is one of the most ancient parts... 

, Capitoline Capitoline Hill

The Capitoline Hill, between the Forum [i] and the Campus Martius [i], is one of the most fa ... 

, and Quirinal Quirinal Hill

The Quirinal Hill is one of the Seven Hills of Rome [i], at the north-east of the historical city cente ... 

 Hills. The Etruscans Etruscan civilization

The Etruscan civilization is the name given today to the culture and way of life of a people of ancient ... 

, who had previously settled to the north in Etruria Etruria

Etruria — usually referred to in Greek and Latin source texts as Tyrrhenia — was a reg... 

, seem to have established political control in the region by the late 7th century BCE 7th century BC

----
The 7th century BC started on January 1 [i], 700 BC [i] and ended on December 31 [i], 601 BC [i]. ... 

, forming the aristocratic and monarchial elite. The Etruscans apparently lost power in the area by the late 6th century BCE 6th century BC

----
The 6th century BC started on January 1 [i], 600 BC [i] and ended on December 31 [i], 501 BC [i]. ... 

, and at this point, the original Latin and Sabine tribes reinvented their government by creating a republic Republic

In a broad definition, a republic is a state [i] or country [i] that is led by people whose political power [i] ... 

, with much greater restraints on the ability of rulers to exercise power.

In Roman legend, Rome was founded Founding of Rome

The founding of Rome [i] is reported by many legends, which in recent times are beginning to be suppleme ... 

 on April 21, 753 BCE by twin descendants of the Trojan Troy

Troy is a legendary city and center of the Trojan War [i], as described in the Trojan War cycle [i], es... 

 prince Aeneas Aeneas

Aeneas was a Trojan [i] hero, the son of prince Anchises [i] and the goddess Aphrodite [i] . ... 

, Romulus and Remus Romulus and Remus

Romulus and Remus are the traditional founders [i] of Rome [i], appearing in Roman mythology [i] ... 

. Romulus killed Remus in a quarrel over which of them was to reign and became the first of seven Kings of Rome Roman Kingdom

The Roman Kingdom was the monarchal government [i] for the city of Rome [i] and its territories from it... 

, as well as the source of the city's name. As the city was bereft of women, legend says that the Latins invited the Sabines to a festival and stole their unmarried maidens, leading to the integration of the Latins and the Sabines.

Republic




The Roman Republic Roman Republic

The Roman Republic was a phase of the ancient Roman civilization [i] characterized by a republic [i]... 

 was established around 509 BCE, according to later writers such as Livy Livy

Titus Livius , known as Livy in English [i], wrote a monumental history of Rome [i]... 

, when the last of the seven kings of Rome, Tarquin the Proud, was deposed, and a system based on annually-elected magistrates and various representative assemblies was established. The most important magistrates were the two consuls, who together exercised executive authority in the form of imperium, or military command. The consuls had to contend with the Senate Roman Senate

The Roman Senate was the main governing council of both the Roman Republic [i], which started in 510 BC [i] ... 

, which was initially an advisory council of the ranking nobility, or patricians, but grew in size and power over time. Other magistracies in the Republic include praetors, aediles, and quaestors. The magistracies were originally restricted to patricians, but were later opened to common people, or plebeians. Republican voting assemblies included the comitia centuriata and the comitia tributa.

The Romans gradually subdued the other peoples on the Italian peninsula, including the Etruscans Etruscan civilization

The Etruscan civilization is the name given today to the culture and way of life of a people of ancient ... 

. The last threat to Roman hegemony in Italy came when Tarentum Taranto

Taranto is a coastal city in Apulia [i], southern Italy [i]. ... 

, a major Greek Ancient Greece

Ancient Greece is the period in Greek history [i] which lasted for around one thousand years and ended w ... 

 colony, enlisted the aid of Pyrrhus of Epirus Pyrrhus of Epirus

Pyrrhus, king of the Molossians [i], Epirus [i] and Macedon [i], was one of the strongest opponen ... 

 in 282 BCE, but this effort failed as well. The Romans secured their conquests by founding Roman colonies in strategic areas, establishing stable control over the region. In the second half of the 3rd century BC, Rome clashed with Carthage Carthage

The term Carthage refers both to an ancient city in North Africa [i] located in modern day Tunis [i] an ... 

 in the first of three Punic Wars. These wars resulted in Rome's first overseas conquests, of Sicily Sicily

Sicily is an autonomous region [i] of Italy [i] and the larges ... 

 and Hispania Hispania

Hispania was the name given by the Romans [i] to the whole of the Iberian Peninsula [i] and... 

, and the rise of Rome as a significant imperial power. After defeating the Macedon Macedon

Macedon or Macedonia was the name of an ancient kingdom in the northern-most part of ancient Greece [i] ... 

ian and Seleucid Empire Seleucid Empire

The Seleucid Empire was a Hellenistic [i] successor state of Alexander the Great [i] ... 

s in the 2nd century BC, the Romans became the dominant people of the Mediterranean Sea Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean Sea is a part of the Atlantic Ocean [i] almost completely enclosed by land: on the nor... 

.

But foreign dominance led to internal strife. Senators became rich at the provinces Roman province

In Ancient Rome [i], a province was the basic, and until the Tetrarchy [i], largest territorial and admi ... 

' expense, but soldiers, who were mostly small farmers, were away from home longer and could not maintain their land, and the increased reliance on foreign slaves Slavery in antiquity

Slavery as an institution in Mediterranean [i] cultures of the ancient world comprised a mixture o ... 

 reduced the availability of paid work. Income from war booty, mercantilism Mercantilism

Mercantilism is the economic theory [i] holding that the prosperity of a nation depends upon its supply ... 

 in the new provinces, and tax farming created new economic opportunity and wealth among the lower classes, forming a new class of merchants, the equestrians. Though the equestrians had vast financial resources at their disposal, they still found themselves counted among the lower-class plebeians, and therefore severely restricted in terms of political power. The Senate squabbled perpetually, repeatedly blocking important land reforms and refusing to give the equestrian class a larger say in the government. Violent gangs of the urban unemployed, controlled by rival Senators, intimidated the electorate through violence. The situation came to a head in the late 2nd century BCE 2nd century BC

----
The 2nd century BC started on January 1 [i], 200 BC [i] and ended on December 31 [i], 101 BC [i]. ... 

 under the Gracchi brothers, a pair of tribunes who attempted to pass land reform legislation that would redistribute the major patrician landholdings among the plebeians. Both brothers were killed, but the Senate passed some of their reforms in an attempt to placate the growing unrest of the plebeian and equestrian classes. The denial of Roman citizen Roman citizenship

Citizenship in the time of Rome [i] was a privileged status afforded to certain individuals ... 

ship to allied Italian cities led to the Social War of 91–88 BCE. The military reforms of Marius Gaius Marius

Gaius Marius was a Roman [i] general and politician elected Consul [i] an unprecedented s ... 

 resulted in soldiers often having more loyalty to their commander than to the city, and a powerful general could hold the city and Senate ransom. This culminated in Sulla Lucius Cornelius Sulla

Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix Roman general [i] and dictator [i], was usually known simply as Sulla ... 

's brutal dictatorship of 81-79 BCE.

In the mid-1st century BCE 1st century BC

The 1st century BC started on January 1 [i], 100 BC [i] and ended on December 31 [i], 1 BC [i]. ... 

, three men, Julius Caesar Julius Caesar

Gaius Julius Caesar , July 12 [i] or July 13 [i], 100 BC [i] – March 15 [i], 44 BC [i]) was a Roman [i] ... 

, Pompey Pompey

Pompey, Pompey the Great or Pompey the Triumvir , was a distinguished military and polit... 

, and Crassus, formed a secret pact—the First Triumvirate—to control the Republic. After Caesar's conquest of Gaul Gallic Wars

The Gallic Wars were a series of military campaign [i]s by several invading Roman legion [i]s under the... 

, a stand-off between Caesar and the Senate led to civil war Caesar's civil war

The Roman civil war of 49 BC, sometimes called Caesar's Civil War, is one of the last conflicts within t... 

, with Pompey leading the Senate's forces. Caesar emerged victorious, and was made dictator for life. In 44 BCE, Caesar was assassinated Assassination

Assassination is the deliberate killing of an important person, usually a political figure or other stra... 

 by senators fearing that Caesar sought to restore the monarchy Roman Kingdom

The Roman Kingdom was the monarchal government [i] for the city of Rome [i] and its territories from it... 

, and a Second Triumvirate Second Triumvirate

The Second Triumvirate is the name historians give to the official political alliance of Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus [i] ... 

, consisting of Caesar's designated heir, Augustus, and his former supporters, Mark Antony Mark Antony

Marcus Antonius , known in English [i] as Mark Antony, was a Roman [i] ... 

 and Lepidus, took power. However, this alliance soon descended into a struggle for dominance. Lepidus was exiled, and when Augustus defeated Antony and Cleopatra Cleopatra VII of Egypt

Cleopatra VII Philopator , later Cleopatra Thea Neotera Philopator kai Philopatris, was queen [i] ... 

 of Egypt Egypt

[i] country in [[North Africa]... 

 at the Battle of Actium Battle of Actium

The Battle of Actium was a naval battle [i] of the Roman Civil War [i] between Mark Antony [i] ... 

 in 31 BC, he became the undisputed ruler of Rome.

Empire






With his enemies defeated, Augustus assumed almost absolute power, retaining only a pretense of the Republican form of government. His designated successor, Tiberius Tiberius

Tiberius Caesar Augustus, born Tiberius Claudius Nero , was the second Roman Emperor [i], from the ... 

, took power without bloodshed, establishing the Julio-Claudian dynasty Julio-Claudian Dynasty

The Julio-Claudian Dynasty refers to the first five Roman Emperors [i]: Augustus [i], Tiberius [i], Caligula [i] ... 

, which lasted until the death of Nero Nero

Nero 'Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus , born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, also called ... 

 in 68. The territorial expansion of what was now the Roman Empire Roman Empire

The Roman Empire was a phase of the ancient Roman [i] civilization characterized by an autocratic [i] ... 

 continued, and the state remained secure, despite a series of emperors widely viewed as depraved and corrupt. Their rule was followed by the Flavian dynasty. During the reign of the "Five Good Emperors Five Good Emperors

The "Five Good Emperors" or Adoptive Emperors were five consecutive emperors of the Roman Empire [i] ... 

" , the Empire reached its territorial, economic, and cultural zenith. The state was secure from both internal and external threats, and the Empire prospered during the Pax Romana Pax Romana

Pax Romana , Latin [i] for "the Roman peace [i]", is the long period of relative peace experienced by st ... 

 . With the conquest of Dacia Dacia

Dacia, in ancient geography the land of the Daci [i], named by the ancient Greeks Getae [i], was a large... 

 during the reign of Trajan Trajan

Marcus Ulpius Nerva Traianus , Roman Emperor [i] , commonly called , was the second of th ... 

, the Empire reached the peak of its territorial expansion; Rome's dominion now spanned 2.5 million square miles .

The period between 180 and 235 was dominated by the Severan dynasty Severan dynasty

The Severan dynasty is a lineage of Roman Emperor [i]s, reigning several decades from the late 2nd centu ... 

, and saw several incompetent rulers, such as Elagabalus Elagabalus

Elagabalus or Heliogabalus , born Varius Avitus Bassus and also known as Varius Avitus B... 

. This and the increasing influence of the army on imperial succession led to a long period of imperial collapse known as the Crisis of the Third Century. The crisis was ended by the more competent rule of Diocletian Diocletian

Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus , born ??????? and known in English as Diocletian, wa... 

, who in 293 divided the Empire into an eastern and western half ruled by a tetrarchy Tetrarchy

Tetrarchy can be applied to any system of government where power is divided between four individuals bu... 

 of two co-emperors and their two junior colleagues. The various co-rulers of the Empire competed and fought for supremacy for more than half a century. In 330, Emperor Constantine I Constantine I

Gaius Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinusantine is best remembered in modern times for the Edict of Milan [i]... 

 firmly established the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire in Byzantium, and the Empire was permanently divided into the Eastern Roman Empire and the Western Roman Empire Western Roman Empire

The Western Roman Empire is the name given to the western half of the Roman Empire [i] after its divisio ... 

 in 364.

The Western Empire was constantly harassed by barbarian invasions, and the gradual decline of the Roman Empire Decline of the Roman Empire

The decline of the Roman Empire, also called the fall of the Roman Empire, is a historical [i]... 

 continued over the centuries. In 410, the city of Rome itself was sacked, and on September 4, 476, the Germanic chief Odoacer Odoacer

Odoacer , also known as Odovacar was the half Hunnish [i], half Scirian [i] chieftain ... 

 forced the last Roman emperor in the west, Romulus Augustus, to abdicate. Having lasted for approximately 1200 years, the rule of Rome in the west came to an end.

Society

Life in Ancient Rome revolved around the city of Rome Rome

Rome is the capital [i] of Italy [i] and of its region, called Latium [i]. ... 

, located on seven hills Seven hills of Rome

The Seven Hills of Rome east of the Tiber [i] form the heart of Rome [i]. ... 

. The city had a vast number of monumental Monument

A monument is a statue, building, or other edifice created to commemorate a person or important event.... 

 structures like the Colosseum Colosseum

The Colosseum or Coliseum, originally known as the Flavian Amphitheatre , is the largest amphitheatre [i] ... 

, the Forum of Trajan Trajan's Forum

Trajan's Forum is chronologically the last of the Imperial fora [i] of Rome [i]. ... 

 and the Pantheon Pantheon, Rome

The Pantheon is a building in Rome [i] which was originally built as a temple [i] to the seven deities [i] ... 

. It had fountains Fountain

A traditional fountain is an arrangement where water issues from a source, fills a basin of some kind, a... 

 with fresh drinking-water supplied by hundreds of miles of aqueducts Aqueduct

An aqueduct is an artificial channel that is constructed to convey water from one location to another.... 

, theaters, gymnasiums, bath complexes Thermae

The term thermae was the word the ancient Romans [i] used for the buildings housing the ... 

 complete with libraries Library

In the traditional sense of the word, a library is a collection of book [i]s and periodicals. ... 

 and shops, marketplaces, and functional sewers. Throughout the territory under the control of ancient Rome, residential Residential area

A residential area is a type of land use [i] where the predominant use is housing. ... 

 architecture Architecture

* Architectural history [i]
  • Architectural mythology [i]

... 

 ranged from very modest house House

People construct houses as dwelling-spaces for human habitation.... 

s to country villas Roman villa

The Roman Empire [i] contained many kinds of villa [i]s. ... 

. In the capital city of Rome, there were imperial Roman Empire

The Roman Empire was a phase of the ancient Roman [i] civilization characterized by an autocratic [i] ... 

 residences on the elegant Palatine Hill Palatine Hill

The Palatine Hill is the centermost of the seven hills of Rome [i] and is one of the most ancient parts... 

, from which the word "palace" is derived. The low and middle classes lived in the city center, packed into apartment Apartment

An apartment is a self-contained housing [i] unit that occupies only part of a building. ... 

s, which were almost like modern ghetto Ghetto

A ghetto is an area where people from a specific racial or ethnic background or united in a given culture [i] ... 

s.

The imperial city of Rome was the largest urban center of its time, with a population well in excess of one million people , with some high-end estimates of 3.5 million and low-end estimates of 450,000. The public spaces in Rome resounded with such a din of hooves and clatter of iron chariot Chariot

A chariot is a two-wheel [i]ed, horse [i]-drawn vehicle [i]. ... 

 wheels that Julius Caesar Julius Caesar

Gaius Julius Caesar , July 12 [i] or July 13 [i], 100 BC [i] – March 15 [i], 44 BC [i]) was a Roman [i] ... 

 had once proposed a ban on chariot traffic at night. Historical estimates indicate that around 20 percent of population under the jurisdiction of the ancient Rome lived in innumerable urban centers, with population of 10,000 and more and several military settlements, a very high rate of urbanization by pre-industrial standards. Most of these centers had a forum and temples and same type of buildings, on a smaller scale, as found in Rome.

Government



Initially, Rome was ruled by elected kings Roman Kingdom

The Roman Kingdom was the monarchal government [i] for the city of Rome [i] and its territories from it... 

. The exact nature of the king's power is uncertain. He may have held near-absolute power, or may also have merely been the chief executive of the Senate and the people SPQR

S.P.Q.R. is an initialism [i] of a Latin [i] noun phrase, Senatus Populusque Ro ... 

. At least in military matters, the king's authority was likely absolute. He was also the head of the state religion. In addition to the authority of the King, there were three administrative assemblies: the Senate Roman Senate

The Roman Senate was the main governing council of both the Roman Republic [i], which started in 510 BC [i] ... 

, which acted as an advisory body for the King; the Comitia Curiata, which could endorse and ratify law Law

Law is the set of rules or norms [i] of conduct which forbid, permit or mandate specified actions... 

s suggested by the King; and the Comitia Calata, which was an assembly of the priestly college which could assemble the people in order to bear witness to certain acts, hear proclamations, and declare the feast Festival

A festival or fest is an event, usually staged by a local c