- Introduction to the History of Rome
“I found a city of bricks, I give it back to you of marble.” These famous words of Octavian Augustus, Rome’s first emperor, reflect the extraordinary transformation of a city that, born in legend, became a republic and later the largest empire in antiquity, only to come to its downfall in 476 CE. - Roman History: Definitions and Chronology
Roman history, or the history of ancient Rome, chronicles the events of the city from its mythical origins in 753 B.C. until the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 A.D. This epic journey is conventionally divided into three major eras:
Royal Age (753-509 BC): From the founding of Rome to the expulsion of the Tarquins.
Republican Age (509-31/27 BC): Characterized by internal struggles, great conquests and crisis.
Imperial Age (31/27 B.C.-476 A.D.): Period of rise and subsequent crisis, culminating in the fall of the Empire. - The Founding of Rome: Myth and Reality.
The legend of Romulus and Remus, sons of the she-wolf and descendants of Aeneas, is central to the history of Rome. The founding date, set at April 21, 753 B.C. by Varro, is celebrated with the rivalry between the two brothers and the tragic death of Remus. Romulus thus becomes the first monarch of Rome. - The Royal Age: The Seven Mythical Kings of Rome.
The period of the royal age (753-509 BC) saw seven kings rule Rome, including Romulus, Numa Pompilius, Tullus Hostilius, Anco Martius, and the three Etruscan kings. The monarchy ceased in 509 BC with the election of the first consuls. - The Republican Age: Struggle, Conquests, and Crisis
The Republican Age (509-31/27 BC) was characterized by struggle between patricians and plebeians, expansions in Italy and the Mediterranean, the Samnite and Punic Wars. Social tensions and reforms by the Gracchi brothers preceded the first civil war (83-82 BC) between populares and optimates. - The Imperial Age: Rise and Crisis of Rome Caput Mundi.
The Imperial Age (31/27 BC-476 AD) began with Octavian Augustus, the first emperor. The Julio-Claudian and Flavian dynasties led to further conquests, but the crisis manifested itself in the 3rd century with internal problems, economics, barbarian pressures, and the spread of Christianity. - Fall of the Empire and Epilogue
The division of the Empire with the Tetrarchy (284-305 AD) and the founding of Constantinople marked the end of Rome’s era as capital. In 476 CE, the Western Roman Empire collapsed with the deposition of Romulus Augustulus, marking the epilogue of an extraordinary epic that changed the course of ancient history.
Brief summary of the history of the Roman empire
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