The civilization of ancient Rome—a hill town that grew to be the seat of a kingdom, a republic, and an empire—endured for more than a thousand years. Though the Roman Republic collapsed, its ideals and institutions inspired the framers of the U. S. Constitution. At its height in about 117 CE, the Roman Empire extended from Britain to Egypt and from Spain to the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Until the collapse of the empire in the west in the fifth century, the impact of Roman power was felt through much of the known world.
Early History
In the tenth century BCE, Rome was a small village on the Palatine Hill in central Italy. By the sixth century the village had become a small town. From 753 to 509 BCE, Rome was ruled by kings, and the town gradually expanded until it had become a city covering seven hills. Tarquin, who was probably Etruscan, was Rome’s last king. Historians believe that Tarquin was responsible for many of the early city’s new buildings and roads.
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THE ROMAN ARMY |
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During the republican period the army consisted of male citizens who went to war as needed and afterward returned to their families. A man’s wealth determined what kind of soldier he would be. The richest, who could afford a horse, formed the cavalry. The poorest were barred from serving because they could not afford weapons. By the time of Augustus, the army was a permanent professional body of around 300,000 men. The core troop was a legion of between 3,000 and 6,000 legionaries. A legion was divided into smaller units known as cohorts. A legionary joined up for twenty years. He bought his own armor and food, but he was well paid and got a share of the loot after a battle. Legionaries often became provincial governors or senators in Rome. Under Augustus auxiliary soldiers—men from the provinces and marines stationed in the empire’s ports—were granted Roman citizenship at the end of their term of duty. They were given land and could marry.
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The Republic (509–45 BCE)
The last king was thrown out of Rome in 509 BCE. The city was then governed by two elected consuls who were advised by the senate. Roman men attended an assembly where they voted on laws.
In 497 BCE Rome went to war with other Latin city-states and assumed power over them in a treaty undertaken in 493. In 390 the city was attacked by Celts from the north. Within a few years a wall was built around Rome’s seven hills. By this time Rome had conquered all the surrounding city-states and was by far the biggest and most important city in Italy. Some of the people from other cities were allowed to become Roman citizens and vote in the assembly. In return they had to trade exclusively with Rome and provide soldiers for the Roman army.
The Punic Wars
Rome’s desire to expand soon brought it into conflict with Carthage, a powerful North African city-state. Carthaginian commercial and military influence was strong throughout the Mediterranean, especially on the island of Sicily.
In 264 BCE Rome began a war with Carthage in Sicily. In 146 BCE, after three long wars (known as the Punic Wars), Carthage and its empire were finally destroyed. Rome had won the battle for the Mediterranean. Now the undoubted major power in the region, Rome could expand as it wished.
