Fact file

Date: 800 BC – 500 AD

Area: Rome

Ancient Rome was a civilization that grew around the city of Rome.  It was founded on an Italian peninsular in 800 BC.  The Roman civilization started off as a monarchy, then shifted to a republic, then to a mighty empire.  It was one of the most dominating empires in human history and conquered an entire area surrounding the Mediterranean Sea.

However, it came to its fall before the Middle Ages due to barbarian invasions in 500 AD.

Ancient Greece is thought to have inspired much of the culture of ancient Rome. Ancient Rome contributed heavily to the development of law, war, art, literature, architecture, and language in the Western world, and its history continues to have a major influence on the world today, but to a much lesser extent than Ancient Rome, when it was considered the center of the planet.

Rome was founded in 900 BC by the Italians.

The Roman Republic was established around 510 BC and a system based on annually elected magistrates.  In 150 BC Julius Caesar, Pompey and Crassus formed a secret pact to control the republic.  After a civil war, Caesar was on his way to dictate for life.  However, he was assassinated by his designated heir – Augustus, and his former supporters, Mark Antony and Lepidus, who took power straight away, scared of the return to Monarchy.  Augustus was named the undisputed ruler of Rome when Lepidus was exiled, Antony and his wife Cleopatra of Egypt was too.

Map

The Roman Empire reached its greatest extent under Trajan

Gallery

The Roman Forum was the central area around which ancient Rome developed