From its humble beginnings in c. 753 B.C., Rome emerged to conquer most known portions of Europe, Southwest Asia, and North Africa in the nine centuries that followed. Ruthlessly subduing subject peoples and bringing them into alignment with their imperial vision, the Romans forged an empire breathtaking in its scope, a realm that made possible trade, communication, and travel as never before. At the empire's height in A.D. 116, it became possible to travel from Scotland to the Red Sea without leaving a Roman road except to cross bodies of water. It was no wonder, then, that geographers of Roman lands, perhaps for the first time in history, began to conceive the idea of mapping the known world. Likewise it was fitting that, centuries after Rome crumbled, the vision of a great European-based multinational empire remained alive.
Background
Numerous myths glorified the Romans' origins, none more so than the great Aeneid of Virgil (70-19 B.C.), which depicted them as descending from a great prince who led a group of escapees from defeated Troy. A particularly telling aspect of the myth is the unfavorable light in which it casts Dido, the queen regarded by the people of Carthage—Rome's historic rival—as the founder of their own civilization: in Virgil's tale, Dido falls deeply in love with Aeneas, and commits suicide when he leaves her.
Background
Numerous myths glorified the Romans' origins, none more so than the great Aeneid of Virgil (70-19 B.C.), which depicted them as descending from a great prince who led a group of escapees from defeated Troy. A particularly telling aspect of the myth is the unfavorable light in which it casts Dido, the queen regarded by the people of Carthage—Rome's historic rival—as the founder of their own civilization: in Virgil's tale, Dido falls deeply in love with Aeneas, and commits suicide when he leaves her.
Archaeological evidence supports the view that Rome grew from pastoral settlements on the Palatine Hill built in the area of the future Roman Forum. While some archaeologists argue that Rome was indeed founded in the middle of the 8th century BC, the date is subject to controversy.[8] The original settlement developed into the capital of the Roman Kingdom (ruled by a succession of seven kings, according to tradition), and then the Roman Republic (from 510 BC, governed by the Senate), and finally the Roman Empire (from 27 BC, ruled by an Emperor). This success depended on military conquest, commercial predominance, as well as selective assimilation of neighbouring civilizations, most notably the Etruscans and Greeks. From its foundation, Rome was undefeated in war, although losing occasional battles, until 386 BC when Rome was occupied by the Celts (one of the three main Gallic tribes), and then recovered by Romans in the same year.[9] According to the history, the Gauls offered to deliver Rome back to its people for a thousand pounds of gold, but the Romans refused, preferring to take back their city by force of arms rather than ever admitting defeat.
Roman dominance expanded over most of Europe and the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, while its population surpassed one million inhabitants. For almost a thousand years, Rome was the most politically important, richest and largest city in the Western world, and remained so after the Empire started to decline and was split, even if it ultimately lost its capital status to Milan and then Ravenna, and was surpassed in prestige by the Eastern capital Constantinople.
Roman dominance expanded over most of Europe and the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, while its population surpassed one million inhabitants. For almost a thousand years, Rome was the most politically important, richest and largest city in the Western world, and remained so after the Empire started to decline and was split, even if it ultimately lost its capital status to Milan and then Ravenna, and was surpassed in prestige by the Eastern capital Constantinople.
