A New Look at The Roman Empire!

Comparing ancient civilizations can help today’s world understand growth and decline of cultures. Learn more about the world's greatest civilizations by studying the Roman Empire.

During Rome’s pre-history in the Bronze Age, Greek and Roman cultures contacted. By the Iron Age, around circa 1000 BC to circa 800 BC, huts started to crop up all over Rome. The Etruscans extended civilization to Campania and the Greeks sent colonists and explorers to the Italic Peninsula. The Roman world expanded for more than a millennium and Roman government continued to evolve from the Roman kings period to the Empire. Central Roman history occurs from approximately circa 200 BC to circa 200 AD, or the late Republic period to Severan emperors.

Roman Kings

In this fascinating period, seven kings ruled Rome. Some were Roman kings and others were Etruscan or Sabine. The cultures combined and the competition for land and creation of political alliances began. Rome grew about 350 miles from its radius during the period. Ultimately, the Roman people did not enjoy a monarchy and cast off this form of government. The last king sat until approximately 510 BC. During this period, Rome’s leaders expanded the power base and became a powerful entity in the ‘world’ of the time.

Early-Late Republic

After the last king was dethroned, a new type of leadership began. The principate, initiated by Augustus, continued through the end of circa 100 BC. The Republic lasted almost five centuries. The early republic ended as the Punic Wars began. The quest for power and the decline of the Empire occurred in sync. The people lost the sense of patriotism and no longer cared as much about the Republic. They no longer celebrated historical heroes and individuals instead became focused on personal power. The Gracchi told the people that the lower classes were all important, but the political reforms they embraced divided people. Blood was shed. Although Marius worked at reforming Rome’s army, Sulla worked against him. Marius’ relation by marriage, Julius Caesar, provoked Roman civil war. He became a dictator and was later assassinated by fellow consuls, calling an end to the Late Roman Republic.

Principate

The Imperial Period began with the Principate. Augustus, the first to sit as princeps, as the first emperor. The second half of the Imperial Period is the Dominate. Princeps no longer led Rome. Jesus was crucified during the first imperial dynasty of the Julio-Claudians. Caligula lived with reckless abandon and Claudius is said to have been murdered by his wife. Her son, Nero, had artistic inclinations and was a disastrous emperor. Assisted suicide helped him to avoid murder. The Flavians brought Rome to its greatest level of expansion, but administrative problems of the huge empire led to the final period.

Dominate

As Diocletian rose to power, the now unmanageable empire required four rulers. Two subordinates, called Caesars, and two emperors, the Augusti, oversaw the empire. This was the period in which Christians were persecuted. Eventually, barbarians entered and sacked Rome. Rome was no longer the center of the empire. The Byzantine period continued until the fifteenth century.