Ancient Rome
By Kli L.
1. Origins of Rome
● Legend of Romulus and Remus: Twin brothers
raised by a she-wolf; Romulus founded Rome in 753
BCE.
● Early Rome: Originating as a small city-state in
central Italy, it was influenced by the Etruscans and
Greeks.
⚖️ 2. Government
● Roman Republic (509–27 BCE)
○ Citizens elected representatives.
○ Main offices:
■ Consuls: Two leaders elected yearly.
■ Senate: A Powerful group of 300 men
(mostly patricians).
■ Assemblies: Represented common people
(plebeians).
○ Key principle: Checks and balances (no one
person has all the power).
● Roman Empire (27 BCE–476 CE)
○ Began when Octavian (Augustus) became the
first emperor.
○ Emperors had ultimate power, supported by
the army.
⚔️ 3. Military and Expansion
● Legions: Well-trained Roman soldiers (about 5,000
men each).
● Rome expanded across Europe, North Africa, and
the Middle East.
● Built roads, forts, and aqueducts to control territory.
● Famous victories: Punic Wars against Carthage
(Hannibal and his elephants).
🏗️ 4. Roman Achievements
● Architecture & Engineering
○ Aqueducts: Carried water into cities.
○ Concrete: Strong, lasting building material.
○ Colosseum: Huge arena for gladiator games.
○ Roman Roads: “All roads lead to Rome.”
● Language & Culture
○ Latin: Basis of Romance languages (Spanish,
French, Italian, etc.).
○ Roman law influenced many legal systems
today.
○ Literature: Writers like Virgil (Aeneid) and
*Cicero.
✝️ 5. Religion
● Early Rome: Polytheistic, adopted gods from
Greece (e.g., Jupiter = Zeus).
● Later, Christianity spread across the empire.
○ At first persecuted, later supported by Emperor
Constantine (Edict of Milan, 313 CE).
○ Christianity became the official religion of the
Roman Empire.
🏚️ 6. Decline and Fall of Rome
● Causes of decline (Western Roman Empire fell in
476 CE):
○ Political corruption and weak leaders.
○ Economic troubles (heavy taxes, inflation).
○ Invasions by Germanic tribes (Visigoths,
Vandals).
○ The Empire split into Eastern and Western
halves.
■ Western Rome fell in 476 CE.
■ Eastern Rome (Byzantine Empire) lasted
nearly 1,000 more years.
1. Origins of Rome
Legend of Romulus and Remus: Twin brothers raised by
a she-wolf; Romulus founded Rome in 753 BCE.
Early Rome: Started as a small city-state in central Italy,
influenced by the Etruscans and Greeks.
2. Government
Roman Republic (509–27 BCE)
Citizens elected representatives.
Main offices:
Consuls: Two leaders elected yearly.
Senate: A Powerful group of 300 men (mostly
patricians).
Assemblies: Represented common people (plebeians).
Key principle: Checks and balances (no one person has
all the power).
Roman Empire (27 BCE–476 CE)
Began when Octavian (Augustus) became the first
emperor.
Emperors had ultimate power, supported by the army.
3. Military and Expansion
Legions: Well-trained Roman soldiers (about 5,000 men
each).
Rome expanded across Europe, North Africa, and the
Middle East.
Built roads, forts, and aqueducts to control territory.
Famous victories: Punic Wars against Carthage
(Hannibal and his elephants).
4. Roman Achievements
Architecture & Engineering
Aqueducts: Carried water into cities.
Concrete: Strong, lasting building material.
Colosseum: Huge arena for gladiator games.
Roman Roads: “All roads lead to Rome.”
Language & Culture
Latin: Basis of Romance languages (Spanish, French,
Italian, etc.).
Roman law influenced many legal systems today.
Literature: Writers like Virgil (Aeneid) and *Cicero.
5. Religion
Early Rome: Polytheistic, adopted gods from Greece
(e.g., Jupiter = Zeus).
Later, Christianity spread across the empire.
At first persecuted, later supported by Emperor
Constantine (Edict of Milan, 313 CE).
Christianity became the official religion of Rome.
6. Decline and Fall of Rome
Causes of decline (Western Roman Empire fell in 476
CE):
Political corruption and weak leaders.
Economic troubles (heavy taxes, inflation).
Invasions by Germanic tribes (Visigoths, Vandals).
The Empire split into Eastern and Western halves.
Western Rome fell in 476 CE.
Eastern Rome (Byzantine Empire) lasted nearly 1,000
more years.