Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome began at the beginning of the eighth century B.C. The site of Rome was chosen for its fertile soil and strategic location. Rome located on the Italian peninsula in the center of the Mediterranean sea. Latin's, Greeks, and Etruscans were competing for the control of the land that would later be the Roman Empire. The Latin's founded the original settlement of Rome between 1000 and 500 B.C.
Around 600 B.C. Etruscan kings begin to rule early Rome. Etruscan king builds first temple and public center, Romans over throw the cruel Etruscan king in 509 B.C. Romans founded a republic - a government in which the citizens elect a leader. Many groups struggle for power in the early Roman Republic. Patricians - wealthy landowners class that holds the most power. Plebeians - the average person that can vote but cannot rule. Tributes - elected representatives that protect plebeians rights. The gap between the rich and the poor widens by the growth of the Roman Republic.
In 451 B.C. Roman officials carve Roman laws into twelve tables. Later they become basis for Roman law. The laws confirm the right of all free citizens to protection of the law. Citizenship is limited to the adult male landowner. The Forum was a public center and the main marketplace and business center people went there to trade and do banking.
Ancient Rome created a lot of things that we would later use. Things like roads, concrete, and aqueducts, and the colosseum. without roads we would be lost and we wouldn't know where to go and without concrete we wouldn't be able to build structures like buildings and houses. Aqueducts were designed by the romans to transfer water to their cities instead of having to live by a main water source. the colosseum was an area where people would go for entertainment, the king would have gladiators fight each other and animals for the entertainment of other people. There would also be plays, comedies, tragedy's, and musical entertainment. The Arch was common in Roman structures they were commonly used in churches and important buildings.
Roman architecture
Augustus Caesar was the founder and the first emperor of the Roman Empire.
Augustus Caesar
Julius Caesar was a military leader that was elected to consul in 59 B.C. Caesar, Crassus, and Pompey form a triumvirate - a group of three rulers. Caesars military wins gave him popularity and power. Pompey fears Caesars growing power and challenges him, loses to Caesar four times. In 44 B.C. Julius Caesar is named dictator for life. Caesar makes reforms and grants wider citizenship and creates jobs for the poor. In the month of March day 15 in 44 B.C. a group of senators oppose Julius Caesar and kill him.
Julius Caesar