The Roman military was instrumental in making the Roman Empire great. In many ways, it was the reason that a small city on the Italian landmass gained control over the greater part of the Western world, from the British Isles to the Near East, from the Rhine to North Africa. In the early days of the Roman Republic, the military … Read more >>
1. Roman Engineering Roman engineering was of the utmost importance in the development of the complex buildings which dominated the Roman era. The many arches and vaults involved in their buildings required a specific type of cement, and the improvement of the general infrastructure (streets, water systems, heating, and so on) involved great feats of engineering. 2. Roman Architectural Innovations … Read more >>
Nothing could be truer than the famous saying, “Rome was not built in a day.” While Rome is well known for its lavish and indulgent way of life, many wars were fought along the way to ensure the survival of the republic and the empire. Wars often led to changes in leadership which in turn allowed for the development of … Read more >>
The Latin expression imperium sine fine (“empire without end”) communicates the idea that neither time nor space could constrain the Roman Empire. The Romans’ enthusiasm for creating and expanding their cities led to significant changes to their environment, such as extensive quarrying and deforestation to provide wood. The Romans built many great cities throughout their empire, and these cities were … Read more >>
More than 150 sovereigns ruled over ancient Rome before the Western Empire fell; the Eastern Empire continued for a little longer. The first Roman emperor was Augustus Caesar in 27 BC, and the last was Romulus Augustulus whose reign ended in 476 AD. Roman sovereigns often took titles like “Augustus,” “Caesar,” and “Imperator” to stress their importance. In 27 BC, … Read more >>
Military tactics have constantly evolved throughout history, but it was the Romans who contributed the most to progressive technologies and analytical military tactics. The Roman military was adaptable, and its approach to battle was quite different from other war units. This special ability of the Romans set them apart. They not only created their own tactics but also made use … Read more >>
There is some debate over the exact time span of the ancient Greek period. Some historians say that it began during the Dark Ages and lasted until 600 AD, but there are other historians who believe that it continued until the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC, and then moved into the Hellenistic period, although these two periods … Read more >>
Socrates (c. 469–399 BC) is known as one of the founders of Western philosophy, yet very few records survive about his life and work. Of the few records we have, many refer to his rational thinking and the important discoveries he made such as epistemology. He gave his name to the famous Socratic method of questioning, also known as elenchus. … Read more >>
A scene from Raphael’s School of Athens shows Pythagoras as a bearded man, thinning on top, and writing with a quill. He is wearing a sleeved tunic spread out over his legs as he bows his head to write, balancing a book on his left thigh. Before him, a child with long hair presents him with a writing slate. There … Read more >>
The Athenian logician Plato (c. 428–347 BC) is a standout amongst ancient Greek philosophers, and his ideas have formed the basis of much Western ideology. He was a student of Socrates and he carried on many of Socrates’ teachings in his work. He established the Academy, thought to be the world’s first college, and in it he taught his most … Read more >>