Gladiators were Roman warriors who fought solely for the entertainment of the masses. Some would fight with weapons while others would simply wrestle it out. The fights were held in arenas called colosseums, with each arena able to host more than 50,000 spectators at a time. The events were enthusiastically attended and were held on a grand scale. They were … Read more >>
The Roman Empire has seen a long history with many ups and downs, and witnessed a large number of social, economic, and financial changes during its development. The Roman Republic survived for more than 500 years before the Roman Empire began when Augustus Caesar announced himself the first Roman emperor in 27 BC. It ended with the fall of Constantinople … Read more >>
“The Holy Roman Empire is neither holy, nor Roman, nor an empire” – Voltaire The Roman Empire once covered large parts of Europe and Asia, but now it has vanished. It did not disappear suddenly, but slowly over time due to corruption and a series of skirmishes and rebellions. The Roman Empire was admired and venerated worldwide, and many of … Read more >>
One of the greatest empires in the history of human civilization, the ancient Roman Empire, was born from the Roman Republic which began in 509 BC. Emperor Augustus (son of Julius Caesar) created the Roman Empire in 27 BC, and it reached its height in 117 AD. At its peak, the Roman Empire consisted of parts of Europe, North Africa, … Read more >>
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 >>