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Ancient Rome was a civilization that existed in Europe between 753 BC and its downfall in AD 476.

History

Beginning

In Roman legend, Rome was founded by Romulus and Remus on 21 April 753 BC. Romulus, whose name is said to have inspired Rome's name, was the first of seven kings, the last of whom, Tarquin the Proud, was deposed in 510 BC. Rome then became a republic, with various types of leadership tried, until Augustus Caesar was created the first Emperor in 23 BC.

Republic

Main article: Roman Republic

The Romans gradually subdued the other peoples on the Italian peninsuela, such as the Etruscans and the Samnites. The last threat to Roman hegemony in Italy came when Tarentum enlisted the aid of Pyrrhus of Epirus in 282.

In the latter half of the 3rd century, Rome clashed with Carthage in the two first Punic wars in which Sicily and Iberia were conquered.

After defeating Macedonia and the Seleucids, the Romans were the undisputed masters of the Mediterranian. Internal strife now became the greatest threat to the Republic. This culminated when Marcus Antonius was defeated by Octavian at the Battle of Actium in 31 BC. Octavian now assumed absolute power, ending the Republic and inagurating the Empire

Empire

Main article: Roman Empire

During the Empire, the borders remained fairly stable as the Romans wheatered uprisings, imperial pretenders, barbarian incursions and other difficulties. To better cope with the task of holding the empire together the emperors began to appoint co-emperors, although this often led to civil war. After 395 the empire became permanently split in a western and an eastern part.

Downfall

Causes

Downfall

Effects of the downfall

Religion

The ancient Romans worshipped many gods and goddesses in temples such as the Pantheon. Later several eastern religions were imported, such as the cults of Isis and Mithras and also Christianity

Gods and Goddesses

• Apollo - God of the sun
• Bacchus - God of wine
• Ceres - Goddess of the earth
• Cupid - God of love
• Diana - Goddess of the moon and hunting
• Janus - God of doors
• Juno - Queen of the gods
• Jupiter - King of the gods
• Maia - Goddess of growth
• Mars - God of war
• Mercury - Messenger of the gods
• Minerva - Goddess of wisdom
• Neptune - God of the sea
• Pluto - God of death
• Proserpine - Goddess of the Underworld
• Saturn - God of time
• Venus - Goddess of love
• Vesta - Goddess of hearth
• Vulcan - God of smith
• Uranus - God of the heavens

(Note: these are not all the gods and goddesses, but only some major ones)

Roman Pantheon

Christianity

Society

Baths

Most Romans visited baths daily whether public or private. The baths contained three main facilities for bathing. After undressing in the apodyterium or changing room, they would proceed to the tepidarium or the warm room. The tepidarium, containing moderate dry heat, was where some performed warm-up exercises and stretching while others applied oil to themselves or had slaves apply it for them. The tepidarium’s main purpose was to promote sweating to prepare for the next room, the caldarium or the hot room. The caldarium as opposed to the tepidarium was extremely humid and hot. Temperatures in the caldarium could get up to 40 degrees Celsius. Many contained steam baths and a cold-water fountain known as the labrum. Finally came the frigidarium or cold room, which there was a cold bath in order to cool off from caldarium.

Economy

Education

Government

Leaders

Senate

the sanet is made of 2 leaders

Military

For more information, see main artical Military history of the Roman Empire

External Links

• Ancient Rome