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Ancient Rome
The city of Rome was central to the civilized world for hundreds of years during ancient times. The Roman Republic and Empire dominated the Mediterranean, along with many other parts of the western world, from approximately 150 BC to AD 400 and continued to be influential until about AD 1200.
History
There are a couple accounts that describe Rome's founding, the first being the legendary account, and the other being the more believable, historic account. The legend is that the city was founded by Romulus around 750 BC, following an interesting but unbelievable childhood narrative. The more likely explanation for the city's founding is that it developed over time.
Rome is said to have had seven kings in its early days, but this could be incorrect due to the lack of historical records.[1] Rome was a republic starting in 509 BC.[2] Its period of republican government was marked by expansion; by 44 BC, the Roman Republic had control over the Italian Peninsula, Gaul (France), most of the Iberian Peninsula, some of the North African coast, Greece, some of Asia Minor (Turkey), and some of the eastern Mediterranean coast.[3]
The expansion of the Roman Republic took place over a long period of time, but most of it took place from 300 BC to 0 BC.[4] Key to Rome's expansion were the three Punic Wars (264-241 BC, 218-201 BC, and 149-146 BC respectively[2]), in which Carthage was not only defeated, but as Wikipedia describes it, "besieged, stormed, and completely destroyed."[2] Following Rome's victory over Carthage, Rome's was able to capture more of the land surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, and in the process much of the eastern Mediterranean came under Roman control. However, Julius Caesar, who had been allied with Pompey and increasingly gained control over the Roman Republic, was killed in 44 BC.[2]
See also
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