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The city of Rome arose as a small settlement on the right bank of the Tiber on the lands of the Latin tribes. The Romans called Latins, who became residents of the city. The Romans believed that the city was founded on April 20, 753 BC. e. The results of modern archaeological excavations on the territory of Rome indicate that once there were several settlements of Latins and Sabines, which in the VIII century. BC e. united together.
Period VIIIVI centuries. BC e. called the "royal period." At that time, monarchs - kings ruled in Rome. The society was dominated by the traditions of the patriarchal system. All citizens were divided into families and surnames. The main social classes were formed - plebeians and patricians. Over time, horsemen were added to them - a layer of Roman rich.
VI-I centuries BC e. - period of the Republic. In 509 BC e. the Romans threw off monarchical power and established a republican form of government. Every year, citizens were elected to the highest government posts: consuls, praetors, censors, aediles, and quaestors. In the first half of the 3rd century BC e. Rome subjugated all the peoples of the Apennine peninsula and became the sovereign master of Italy. During the V-III centuries. BC e. as a result of the plebeians' struggle for their rights, the two main estates of the Romans were equalized in rights and formed a single civil society. From now on, the Romans became more united. In the III century. BC e. Rome began the struggle with Carthage for supremacy in the Mediterranean. During the III II centuries. BC e. Rome won and became the strongest state of the Mediterranean. Overseas territories formed - provinces ruled by proconsuls, praetors appointed by the Senate.
Having turned into a powerful slave-owning state, Rome managed to defeat the powerful neighbors - the Macedonian and Pontic kingdoms, suppressed the revolt of the slaves under the leadership of Spartacus, subjugated Gaul by the legions of Julius Caesar. But in Rome itself, by that time, a crisis of the republican system had emerged.
Rome from a small policy turned into a huge state, which was impossible to govern through elected rulers. In the 1st century BC e the period of civil wars began, the dictatorship of Sulla, then Caesar was established, which gradually proved the expediency of sole power.
In 27 BC and the Roman state finally turned into an empire, the first emperor of which was Octavian Augustus. The establishment of an empire put an end to civil wars, strengthened the slave system, strengthened the protection of borders. But in the III century. n e. the first signs of the decline of slavery were identified. Gradually, the exploitation of slaves was replaced by the exploitation of dependent farmers, the first sprouts of feudal relations appeared. State power has weakened. The Great Empire was divided into two parts: the Western Roman Empire with its capital in Rome and the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantium) with its capital in Constantinople. The fight against barbarians and the crisis of slavery extremely weakened the Western Roman Empire, which ceased to exist in 476 AD e. The year of her death was the last year of the era of the Ancient World.
In the middle of the 1st century and. e. on the lands of the Roman province of Judea formed the Christian religion. Having emerged as the religion of the oppressed, Christianity eventually took hold of the consciousness of various sections of the population and spread throughout the empire.
Ancient Rome was one of the most powerful civilizations in the history of mankind. Its history dates back to the founding of Rome in the 8th century BC. and lasts until the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century A.D. This centuries-old period is divided into three parts: imperial, republican and imperial.
Rome itself was founded by Italian tribes by the Tiber River and was at first a small village. To the north of it lived Etruscan tribes. According to legend, the vestal Rhea lived there, who, by chance, gave birth to two sons from the god Mars - Romulus and Remus. By order of Rey's brother and father, the children in the basket were thrown into the river and nailed to the Palatine Hill, where they were fed by a she-wolf. Subsequently, on this hill in 753 BC. Romulus erected Rome, and the she-wolf became an animal sacred to the city.
During the Tsarist period (VIII century BC - VI century BC), seven kings alternately ruled ancient Rome. In the VIII century, the Romans became friends with the Sabines and their king Tacius ruled together with Romulus. However, after the death of Tzius, Romulus became king of the united nations. He created the Senate and strengthened the Palatine. The next king was Numa Pompilius. He was famous for his piety and justice, for which he was elected senate. The third king, Tull Gostilii, was distinguished by militancy and often fought with neighboring cities.
After his death, the Sabine Ank Marcius came to power, which significantly expanded the city to the coast. During the Tsarist period, Latins, Sabines, or Etruscan rulers alternately ruled Rome. One of the wisest rulers was Servius Tullius of Kornikul. Once he was captured by the Romans, he became the successor of King Tarquinius the Ancient and married his daughter. After the death of the king, he was unanimously elected by the Senate. At the beginning of the VI century BC through the efforts of the Latin-Sabine patricians, royal power in Rome fell and the Republican period began, which lasted until about 30 BC
This period was quite long, therefore it is customary to divide it into two parts: the Early Roman Republic and the Late Roman Republic. The early period was marked by the struggle of the patricians (tribal aristocracy) and plebeians (descendants of the defeated people). From birth, patricians were granted the privileges of a higher caste, and plebeians were not even allowed to enter into legal marriages or carry weapons. The republic was ruled by two consuls from the patrician caste. This state of affairs could not last long, so the plebeians organized a riot.
They demanded the abolition of debt interest, the right to participate in the Senate and other privileges. Due to the fact that their military role in the country increased, the patricians had to make concessions by the end of the III century BC. the plebeians had the same rights and opportunities as the "higher caste." In the same period, the Romans participated in a series of wars, the result of which was the conquest of Italy. By 264 BC Rome became the leading power of the Mediterranean. The late period of the formation of the republic was marked by a series of Punic wars, during which the Romans took Carthage.
The Roman Empire (ancient Rome) left an imperishable trace in all European lands, where only its victorious legions stepped. The stone lining of Roman architecture has survived to this day: walls protecting citizens, along which troops moved, aqueducts delivering fresh water to citizens, and bridges thrown across turbulent rivers. As if all this was not enough, the legionnaires erected more and more new structures - even when the borders of the empire began to recede. In the era of Hadrianwhen Rome was far more concerned with the consolidation of land than with new conquests, the unclaimed fighting distance of soldiers who had been torn away from their homes and families for a long time was wisely directed in another creative direction. In a sense, the whole of Europe owes its birth to the Roman builders who introduced many innovations both in Rome itself and beyond. The most important achievements of urban development, aimed at the public good, were sewerage and water supply systems, which created healthy living conditions and contributed to an increase in population and the growth of cities themselves. But all this would not have been possible if the Romans hadn’t invented concrete and did not begin to use the arch as the main architectural element. These two innovations were carried by the Roman army throughout the empire.
Since the stone arches withstood enormous weight and could be built very high - sometimes two or three tiers - the engineers working in the provinces easily overcame any rivers and gorges and reached the farthest edges, leaving behind them strong bridges and powerful water supply systems (aqueducts). Like many other structures built with the help of Roman troops, the bridge in the Spanish city of Segovia, through which the water supply passes, has gigantic dimensions: 27.5 m in height and about 823 m in length. Extraordinarily tall and slender pillars, composed of roughly hewn and unbonded granite blocks, and 128 graceful arches leave an impression of not only unprecedented power, but also imperial self-confidence. This is a miracle of engineering, built about 100 tons and. e., steadfastly stood the test of time: until recently, the bridge served the water supply system of Segovia.
How it all began?
Early settlements on the site of the future city of Rome arose on the Apennine Peninsula, in the Tiber River Valley, at the beginning of the 1st millennium BC. e. According to legend, the Romans come from the Trojan refugees who founded the city of Alba Longu in Italy. Rome itself, according to legend, was laid down by Romulus, the grandson of King Alba Longa, in 753 BC. e. As in the Greek policies, in the early period of the history of Rome it was ruled by kings, who in fact enjoyed such power as the Greeks. Under tsar tyrant Tarquinia Gorde, a popular uprising took place, during which tsarist power was destroyed and Rome turned into an aristocratic republic. Its population was clearly divided into two groups - the privileged estate of the patricians and the estate of the plebeians, which had significantly less rights. Patrician was considered a member of the oldest Roman family, only the senate (the main government body) was elected from the patricians. A significant part of its early history is the struggle of the plebeians for the expansion of their rights and the transformation of members of their class into full-fledged Roman citizens.
Ancient Rome differed from the Greek city-states, because it was in completely different geographical conditions - a single Apennine peninsula with vast plains. Therefore, starting from the earliest period of its history, its citizens were forced to compete and fight with neighboring Italian tribes. The defeated peoples were subordinate to this great empire either as allies or simply included in the republic, and the conquered population did not receive the rights of Roman citizens, often turning into slaves. The most powerful opponents of Rome in the IV century. BC e. there were Etruscans and Samnites, as well as individual Greek colonies in southern Italy (Greater Greece). And yet, despite the fact that the Romans often quarreled with the Greek colonists, the more developed Hellenic culture had a noticeable effect on the culture of the Romans. It got to the point that the ancient Roman deities began to be identified with their Greek counterparts: Jupiter - with Zeus, Mars - with Ares, Venus - with Aphrodite, etc.
Roman Empire Wars
The most tense moment in the confrontation between the Romans and the South Italians and Greeks was the war of 280-272. BC e., when Pyrrhus, king of the state of Epirus, who was in the Balkans, intervened in the course of hostilities. In the end, Pyrrhus and his allies were defeated, and by 265 BC e. The Roman Republic united under its authority the whole of Central and Southern Italy.
Continuing the war with the Greek colonists, the Romans clashed in Sicily with the Carthaginian (Punic) power. In 265 BC e. the so-called Punic wars began, which lasted until 146 BC. e., almost 120 years. At first, the Romans fought against the Greek colonies in eastern Sicily, primarily against the largest of them - the city of Syracuse. Then the seizures of the Carthaginian lands in the east of the island began, leading to the fact that the Carthaginians, who had a strong fleet, attacked the Romans. After the first defeats, the Romans managed to create their own fleet and defeat the Carthaginian ships in the battle of the Egate Islands. The world was signed, according to which in 241 BC. e. all of Sicily, considered the breadbasket of the Western Mediterranean, became the property of the Roman Republic.
Carthaginian dissatisfaction with the results First Punic War, as well as the gradual penetration of the Romans into the territory of the Iberian Peninsula, which was owned by Carthage, led to the second military clash between the powers. In 219 BC e. the Carthaginian commander Hannibal Barki captured the Spanish city of Sagunt, an ally of the Romans, then passed through southern Gaul and, having overcome the Alps, invaded the territory of the Roman Republic itself. Hannibal supported part of the Italian tribes, dissatisfied with the rule of Rome. In 216 BC e. in Puglia, in a bloody battle at Cannes, Hannibal surrounded and almost completely destroyed the Roman army, which was commanded by Guy Terentius Varron and Emilius Paul. However, Hannibal could not take the heavily fortified city and was eventually forced to leave the Apennine Peninsula.
The war was transferred to the north of Africa, where Carthage and other Punian settlements were located. In 202 BC e. the Roman commander Scipio defeated the army of Hannibal near the town of Zama, south of Carthage, after which peace was signed on the terms dictated by the Romans. The Carthaginians lost all their possessions outside Africa, were obliged to transfer to the Romans all warships and war elephants. Winning the Second Punic War, the Roman Republic became the most powerful state in the Western Mediterranean. The Third Punic War, which took place from 149 to 146 BC. e., boiled down to the completion of the already defeated enemy. In the spring of 14b BC e. Carthage was taken and destroyed, and its inhabitants.
The defensive walls of the Roman Empire
The relief from the column of Trajan depicts a scene (see left) from the times of the Dacian wars; Legionnaires (they are without helmets) build a camp from rectangular pieces of turf. When Roman warriors found themselves in enemy lands, the construction of such a fortification was commonplace.
“Fear gave birth to beauty, and ancient Rome was wonderfully transformed, changing the former - peaceful - policy and beginning to erect towers in a hurry, so that soon all seven of its hills flashed the armor of a continuous wall” - so one Roman wrote about the powerful fortifications built around Rome in 275 to protect against the ready. Following the capital’s example, large cities throughout the Roman Empire, many of which long ago “crossed” the boundaries of their former walls, hastened to strengthen their defensive lines.
The construction of city walls was an extremely laborious job. Usually, two deep ditches broke through the settlement, and between them piled a high earthen rampart. It served as a kind of layer between two concentric walls. External the wall went into the ground at 9 mso that the enemy could not make a dig, but at the top was equipped with a wide road for sentinels. The inner wall rose a few more meters to make it difficult to shell the city. Such fortifications hardly succumbed to destruction: their thickness reached 6 m, and stone blocks were driven together by metal brackets - for greater strength.
When the walls were completed, it was possible to proceed with the construction of the gate. Above the opening in the wall was built a temporary wooden arch - formwork. Above it, skilled masons, moving on both sides to the middle, laid wedge-shaped slabs, forming a bend of the arch. When the last - castle, or key - stone was enclosed, the stone and formwork were removed, and next to the first arch they began to build the second. And so on until the entire passage into the city was under a semicircular roof - the Korobov Arch.
The guard posts at the gates, guarding the peace of the city, often represented real small fortresses: there were military barracks, stocks of weapons and food. In Germany, the so-called (see below) is perfectly preserved. Instead of windows there were loopholes on its lower cottages, and round towers stood on both sides - it would be more convenient to fire at the enemy. During the siege, a powerful grille descended onto the gate.
The wall, built in the III century around Rome (19 km in length, 3.5 m in thickness and 18 m in height), totaled 381 towers and 18 gates with descending grates. The wall was constantly renovated and strengthened, so that it served the City until the 19th century, that is, until the improvement of artillery. Two thirds of this wall are still standing.
The majestic Porta Nigra (i.e. the Black Gate), rising 30 meters in height, personifies the power of imperial Rome. The fortified gate is flanked by two towers, one of which is significantly damaged. Once the gate served as an entrance to the city walls of the II century BC. e. to Augustus Trevirorum (later Trier), the northern capital of the empire.
Aqueducts of the Roman Empire. The road of life of the imperial city
The famous three-tiered aqueduct in southern France (see above), thrown across the Gard River and its low-lying valley - the so-called Gard Bridge, is as beautiful as it is functional. This structure, stretching for 244 m in length, daily supplies from a distance of 48 km about 22 tons of water to the city of Nemaus (now Nimes). The Garda Bridge is still one of the most wonderful works of Roman engineering.
For the Romans, famous for their achievements in engineering, a special pride were aqueducts. According to them, about 250 million gallons of fresh water were daily supplied to ancient Rome. In 97 g. e. Sextus Julius Frontin, superintendent of Rome’s water supply system, rhetorically asked: “Who dares to compare the idle pyramids or some worthless - though famous - creations of the Greeks, our water pipes - these great constructions without which human life is unthinkable?” At the end of its greatness, the city acquired eleven aqueducts, along which water ran from the southern and eastern hills. Engineering turned into real art: it seemed that graceful arches easily jumped over obstacles, besides decorating the landscape. The Romans quickly “shared” their achievements with the rest of the Roman Empire, and you can still see the remains numerous aqueducts in France, Spain, Greece, North Africa and Asia Minor.
To provide water to provincial cities, whose population had already depleted local supplies, and to build baths and fountains there, Roman engineers laid channels to rivers and sources, often tens of miles away. Flowing under a slight slope (Vitruvius recommended a minimum slope of 1: 200), precious moisture ran through stone pipes that ran through the countryside (and for the most part were hidden underground tunnelsor ditches, repeating the outlines of the landscape) and in the end reached the city. There, water safely flowed into public tanks. When rivers or gorges came across the pipeline, builders threw arches through them, which allowed them to maintain their former soft slope and maintain a continuous flow of water.
So that the angle of incidence of water would remain constant, surveyors again resorted to thunder and horobat, as well as to a diopter measuring horizontal angles. Again, the bulk of the work fell on the shoulders of the troops. In the middle of the 2nd century A.D. one military engineer was asked to understand the difficulties encountered in the construction of the aqueduct in Saldi (in present-day Algeria). Two detachments of workers began to dig a tunnel in the hill, moving towards each other from opposite sides. The engineer soon realized what was happening. “I measured both tunnels,” he wrote later, “and found that the sum of their lengths exceeds the width of the hill.” The tunnels just did not meet. He found a way out, having drilled a well between the tunnels and connected them, so that the water began to flow as it should. The city honored the engineer with a monument.
The internal situation of the Roman Empire
Further strengthening of the external power of the Roman Republic was simultaneously accompanied by a deep internal crisis. Such a significant territory could no longer be controlled in the old way, i.e., with the organization of power characteristic of a city-state. In the ranks of the Roman military commanders, generals advanced who claimed to have full power, like the ancient Greek tyrants or Hellenic rulers in the Middle East. The first of these lords was Lucius Cornelius Sulla, who captured in 82 BC. e. Rome and became a sovereign dictator. Sulla's enemies were mercilessly killed according to the lists (scriptures) that the dictator himself prepared. In 79 BC e. Sulla voluntarily renounced power, but this could no longer return him to his former management. A long period of civil wars began in the Roman Republic.
The external position of the Roman Empire
Meanwhile, the stable development of the empire was threatened not only by external enemies and ambitious politicians fighting for power. Periodically, rebellion of slaves broke out on the territory of the republic. The largest such rebellion was a speech led by the Thracian Spartak, which lasted almost three years (from 73 to 71 BC). The rebels were defeated only by the combined efforts of the three most skilled commanders of Rome of that time - Mark Licinius Crassus, Mark Licinius Lucullus and Gnei Pompey.
Later, Pompeii, famous for his victories in the East over the Armenians and the Pontic king Mithridates VI, entered the fray for the highest power in the republic with another famous military leader - Guy Julius Caesar. Caesar from 58 to 49 BC e. managed to capture the territory of the northern neighbors of the Roman Republic - the Gauls, and even carried out the first invasion of the British Isles. In 49 BC e. Caesar entered Rome, where he was declared a dictator - a military ruler with unlimited rights. In 46 BC e. at the battle of Farsalos (Greece), he defeated Pompey - his main rival. And in 45 BC. e. in Spain, under Mund, he crushed the last obvious political opponents - the sons of Pompey, Gnei the Younger and Sextus. At the same time, Caesar managed to enter into an alliance with the Egyptian queen Cleopatra, in fact subjugating her vast country of power.
However, in 44 BC. e. Guy Julius Caesar was killed by a group of Republican conspirators led by Mark Junius Brutus and Guy Cassius Longin. Civil wars in the republic continued. Now their main participants are the closest associates of Caesar - Marc Anthony and Gaius Octavian. At first they destroyed the assassins of Caesar together, and only later entered the battle with each other. Anthony during this last stage of the civil wars in Rome was supported by the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra. However, in 31 BC. e. in the battle of Cape of Shares, the fleet of Anthony and Cleopatra was defeated by the ships of Octavian. The Queen of Egypt and her ally committed suicide, and Octavian, finally to the Roman Republic, became the unlimited ruler of a gigantic power, uniting almost the entire Mediterranean under its authority.
Octavian, in 27 B.C. e. who took the name Augustus "blessed", is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, although this title at that time meant only the supreme commander in chief, who won a significant victory. Officially, no one abolished the Roman Republic, and Augustus preferred to be called the Princeps, i.e., the first among the senators. And yet, under the successors of Octavian, the republic began to more and more acquire the features of a monarchy, which was closer in its organization to eastern despotic states.
The empire reached its highest foreign policy power under the emperor Trajan, who in 117 AD e. conquered part of the lands of the most powerful strong enemy of Rome in the east - the Parthian Empire. However, after the death of Trajan, the Parthians managed to return the occupied territories and soon went on the offensive. Already under Trajan's successor, Emperor Hadrian, the empire was forced to move to defensive tactics, constructing powerful defensive ramparts on its borders.
Not only the Parthians troubled the Roman power; the raids of barbarian tribes from the north and east became more and more frequent, in the battles with which the Roman army often suffered sensitive defeats. Later, Roman emperors even allowed certain groups of barbarians to settle on the territory of the empire, provided that they would guard the borders from other hostile tribes.
In 284, the Roman emperor Diocletian made an important reform finally transforming the former Roman Republic into an imperial state. From now on, even the emperor began to be called differently - “dominus” (“lord”), and a complex ritual was introduced at the court, borrowed from the eastern rulers. At the same time, the empire was divided into two parts - Eastern and Western, each headed by a special ruler, who received title of Augustus. He was assisted by a deputy who was called Caesar. After some time, Augustus was to transfer power to Caesar, and himself to retire. This more flexible system, along with improved provincial governance, has led this great state to exist for another 200 years.
In the 4th century Christianity became the dominant religion in the empire, which also helped to strengthen the internal unity of the state. Since 394, Christianity is the only permitted religion in the empire. However, while the Eastern Roman Empire remained a fairly solid state, the Western Empire weakened under the blows of barbarians. Several times (410 and 455), barbarian tribes captured and ravaged Rome, and in 476 the leader of the German mercenaries Odoacer overthrew the last western emperor Romulus Augustulus and declared himself ruler of Italy.
And although the Eastern Roman Empire was preserved as a single country, and in 553 it even annexed the entire territory of Italy, yet it was already a completely different state. It is no coincidence that historians prefer to call him and consider his fate separately from the history of ancient Rome.
Our story today is dedicated to Ancient Rome, which in the years of its highest prosperity was one of the most powerful states of the ancient world. His possessions extended from England in the north to Ethiopia in the south, from Iran in the east and to Portugal in the west.
How did the Roman Empire arise, what is the secret of its power? What has she given to the world and what has she enriched herself from neighboring states?
The birth of the Roman state
... mild climate and comfortable geographical position The Apennine Peninsula, on which the Roman state was born, has long been attracted by numerous tribes. Over time, these tribes found a common language, united and became the basis of the population of Ancient Rome, and their representatives began to be called patricians. Later settlers made up the plebeian estate. The source of the replenishment of the Roman nation was its neighbors, called the Italics, as well as foreign slaves.
All power belonged to the patricians in an emerging state. The plebeians for a long time were very limited in their rights and did not have access to power. This gave rise to their discontent and led to an open struggle for their rights. In the end, the patricians and plebeians were able to agree with each other and merged into a single Roman people. They called their state as well as its main city - Rome. The history of Ancient Rome dates back to 753 BC. e. and ends in 476 g. e.
Why the symbol of Rome is the she-wolf
How did the Romans explain the origin of their city?
In ancient times, genuine knowledge was often replaced by myths and legends. One of these legends explains the emergence of Rome.
... Daughter, one of the murdered rulers gave birth to sons - twins Remus and Romulus. But out of fear of revenge, the new ruler ordered the death of the newborns. However, the she-wolf saved and fed them. The brothers grew up in a shepherd's family and turned into strong, seasoned warriors. And in the place where the she-wolf found them, they decided to lay the city. The city was founded, but the brothers quarreled: Romulus kills Remus, and calls the city by his name Rome (Roma) ...
The she-wolf who saved the brothers became a symbol of Rome. Grateful descendants erected a monument to her in the National Museum of Italy - the Capitol.
What did the ancient Romans do
Rome was originally a small city-state. Him the population consisted of three classes:
- patricians - indigenous people who occupied a privileged position in society;
- plebeians - later settlers;
- foreign slaves - they were captured as a result of numerous wars waged by the Roman state, as well as their own citizens, who became slaves for breaking the law.
A new day for all classes began at dawn. Slaves were doing housework, doing the hardest work in agriculture, worked in quarries.
Patricians received servants, talked with friends, studied law, military art, visited libraries and entertainment venues. Only they could hold government posts and be military leaders.
The plebeians in all spheres of life were dependent on the patricians. They were not allowed to rule the state and command the troops. At their disposal were only small plots of land. And for the most part they were engaged in trade, various crafts - the processing of stone, leather, metal, etc.
All work was carried out in the morning. Afternoon was used to relax and visit the baths with thermal waters. Noble Romans at this time could visit libraries, theater performances and other shows.
The political system of ancient Rome
The entire 12-century path of the Roman state consisted of several periods. Initially, it was an elected monarchy led by the king. The king ruled the state, both in peacetime and in wartime, and acted as high priest. Along with the imperial unity of command, there was a senate, which included 300 senators, chosen by the patricians from among their elders. Initially, only patricians participated in the public assemblies, but in a later period, the plebeians achieved these rights.
After the expulsion of the last king at the end of the VI century BC, a republican system was established in Rome. Instead of a single monarch, 2 consuls were elected annually, who ruled the country along with the Senate. If Rome was in serious danger, a dictator who possessed unlimited power was appointed.
Having created a strong, well-organized army, Rome conquers the entire Apennine Peninsula, defeats its main rival - Kargafen, conquers Greece and other Mediterranean states. And by the 1st century BC, it turns into a world power, the borders of which passed through three continents - Europe, Asia and Africa.
The republican system could not maintain order in an overgrown state. In the Senate, several dozen of the richest families began to dominate. They appointed governors who ruled in the conquered territories. Viceroys shamelessly robbed both ordinary people and wealthy provincials. In response to this, rebellions began and civil warslasting almost a century. Finally, the ruler who won the struggle for power became the emperor, and the state subject to him became known as the empire.
What and how children were taught in ancient Rome
Experience has had a major impact on the Roman educational system. Her main goal was to educate a strong, healthy, self-confident generation.
Fathers taught boys from low-income families to plow and sow, introduced to a variety of crafts.
The girls were trained for the role of wife, mother and mistress of the house - they were taught the basics of cooking, the ability to sew and other purely female pursuits.
In Rome there were schools of three levels:
- Elementary schools that taught students only basic reading, writing and math skills.
- Grammatical schools in which boys from 12 to 16 years old studied. Teachers of such schools are more educated and have a fairly high position in society. Special textbooks and anthologies were created for these schools.
- Aristocrats sought to give their children a classic education in rhetorical schools. Boys were taught not only grammar and literature, but also music, astronomy. They were given knowledge of history and philosophy, taught medicine, oratory and fencing. In a word, everything that a Roman needed for a career.
All schools were private. Tuition at rhetorical schools was only for the richest and most notable Romans.
What ancient Rome left for future generations
Despite numerous wars with external enemies and internal strife, ancient Rome left mankind a most valuable cultural and artistic heritage.
it graceful poetic works, oratorical compositions full of pathos and conviction, philosophical works of Lucretius Cara, striking with the depth of thought, but denounced in a poetic form.
The Romans created great architecture. One of its grandest structures is the Colosseum. The most difficult construction work was carried out by 12 thousand slaves from Judea, engineering calculations and design were entrusted to the most talented architects and artists of Rome. They used the new building material they created - concrete, new architectural forms - a dome and an arch.
This metropolitan amphitheater accommodates more than 50,000 spectators. For centuries, gladiators shed their blood on the Colosseum’s arena, fearless bullfighters entered into a fight with angry bulls. Gladiators fought to the death of one of the rivals, causing delight and horror among the crowd of thousands of spectators.
The next architectural masterpiece is the Pantheon, i.e. temple complex of the Roman gods, which are largely "borrowed" from the ancient Greeks. This structure is in the shape of a dome with a height of about 43 m. One of the most interesting engineering solutions is the hole in the top of the dome with a diameter of 9 m. Daylight penetrated through the huge hall through it.
The Romans were rightly proud of the aqueducts - water pipelines, through which the city received clean water from sources located in elevated places. The total length of the aqueducts leading to Rome was 350 km! Some of them went to the terms - antique public baths.
The most famous building of this purpose was the Baths of Emperor Caracalla. Their scope and interior are striking in grandeur and grandeur. In addition to swimming pools, there are places for relaxation and socializing, libraries. Now they are turned into a tourist attraction, which does not prevent them from being used for theatrical performances.
The creative genius of the Roman masters found its expression in the monuments of sculpture, which depicted in bronze and marble prominent people of ancient Rome. Wall paintings, mosaic floors, beautiful jewelry admire the art of ancient masters.
To the modern world, this great empire gave and Roman law, regulating the relationship between man and the state, as well as the Latin language, which is still used in medical and pharmacological terms.
But why did this great empire fall in the prime of life? If we summarize the opinions of researchers on this issue, the answer will be this: the state and military power of the Romans was not able to manage such a huge empire.
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One of the main reasons for the rapid growth and rise of Rome was its exceptionally favorable location. Rome was at the intersection of the most important land routes, alongside it were sea routes from the Eastern Mediterranean to the Western and from Africa to Europe. Rome is located in the center of the Apennine peninsula; the earliest settlements on the site of the future city were located on hills with steep slopes, standing on a marshy plain, so Rome was often called the "city on seven hills." Warm mild climate, fertile soils, rich plant world favored the appearance and development of human settlements in this place.
The peninsular position of Italy led to the development of shipbuilding, fishing, maritime trade, and naval military activity in Ri-me. The mountains in Italy occupied a much smaller part of the territory than in Greece and Macedonia, were not so high and did not serve as a serious obstacle to the development of close contacts between different regions and for the unification of the country. The natural resources of Italy were richer than in Greece, which allowed the peoples of the Apennine Peninsula to more successfully develop agriculture, cattle breeding, and craft. An important consequence of all this was the high population of Ancient Italy, which was certainly important for the state in the conditions of the constant wars waged by the Romans.
Volcanoes
The ancient Romans believed that they could conquer the whole world, but could not cope with the formidable volcanic forces of nature at home.
Most of the Apennine Peninsula is occupied by mountains. Some of these mountains - volcanoes composed of cooled ash and lava, thrown from the incandescent bowels of the Earth to the surface. A number of volcanic mountains rise directly from the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea, and their surface peaks form islands. The ancient Romans thought that the god Volcano was working underground in his forge. From the blows of his hammer, the earth begins to shake, a strong underground rumble is heard, from crater - hollows on the top of the volcano - fire, smoke, ashes erupt. Down the slopes of the volcano begins to flow fiery lava. A volcanic eruption occurs. People were afraid of volcanoes, but often settled at their foot, because volcanic ash well fertilized the earth. Eruptions rarely occurred once in a hundred, or even once in a thousand years, and everyone hoped that during his lifetime there would be no eruption.
So did the Romans who lived near the volcano Vesuvius. A strong eruption in the 1st century AD began neo-liquid, many people died. Two cities were burnt and covered with lava. The third city - Pom-Pei, was bombarded with volcanic ash. Nowadays, the streets and houses of Pompeii are dug from under the ashes, and we can imagine how people lived about 2000 years ago.
When the last king was expelled from the city, Rome was declared a republic. The Roman Republic was ruled by the Senate - a group of persons (senators) who came from the most notable Roman families. Under the leadership of the Senate, the Romans gradually conquered all of Italy.
Roman senate
At meetings in the Senate, important issues were decided for the Roman Republic. The Senate was led by two consuls. They were the highest representatives of power. There were always guards near them. Each year, special officials — magistrates — were selected from senators. Each senator had responsibilities for a specific part of a government or organization. There were also eight praetor judges among the senators. All senators wore a toga (spacious clothing) with a wide purple stripe.
Punic Wars
From 264 BC e. the Romans and the inhabitants of Carthage fought with each other several times. Both sides fought a fierce struggle for control of trade in the Mediterranean.
In 218 BC e. the Carthaginians invaded Italy. The Carthaginian commander Hannibal led his troops through the Alps. During a campaign in the mountains, 10 thousand soldiers died. Only two out of forty fighting elephants endured the hardships of this path.
The wars between Rome and Carthage went down in history as Punic. They culminated in the fall and complete destruction of Carthage in 146 BC. e.
Julius Caesar
While the Romans conquered all large territories, senators argued about how to manage them. Opposing groups of senators in the struggle for power resorted to the help of the troops. In 49 BC e. commander Julius Caesar, coming up with his legions to Rome, seized the supremacy in him. Caesar brought peace. However, several senators, fearing that he would proclaim himself king, stabbed him.
The Roman Empire
After the death of Caesar, the struggle for power intensified even more. In 31 BC e. the great-nephew of Caesar Octavian, defeating his rival Mark Anthony, subjugated the entire Roman Empire to his influence. Octavian took the nickname Augustus, which means "sacred, exalted by the deity."
The heyday of ancient Rome
By the time Augustus became emperor, Rome was subordinate to most of The Mediterranean. Over the next 150 years, the Romans captured an even larger territory. They created a colossal empire - from Britain to the countries of the Middle East.
During the reign of Emperor Trajan, in 117 AD e., the Roman Empire reached its maximum limits.
The decline of Rome
About 200 g. e. the power of the Roman Empire began to weaken. The emperor was now chosen by the army, and skirmishes broke out between different groups of warriors. The Roman Empire was invaded by tribes from the northeast. They were called Germans. The Romans called these people barbarians.
Reign of Diocletian
In 284 AD e. the commander Diocletian became emperor. To protect the empire from the barbarians, he reorganized the army, increasing its strength.
The division of the Roman Empire. Diocletian understood that such a huge empire could not be controlled by one person. Therefore, he divided it into two parts. Diocletian himself ruled the Eastern Roman Empire, and his commander Maximian ruled the West. Each emperor had a deputy who helped him manage the government.
Board of Constantine
When Diocletian voluntarily abandoned the throne, a serious struggle for power flared up. In 312 AD e. Constantine becomes emperor of the Western Roman Empire.
Unification of the Roman Empire. Later, Constantine seized the hands of the Eastern Roman Empire, recreating the state within its former borders. Constantine transfers the capital of the Roman Empire to the city of Byzantium on the Black Sea. He rebuilds Byzantium, fills it with treasures from all over the empire, and renames the city in his honor Constantinople.
The fall of ancient Rome
Hun invasion of Rome
Around 370 AD e. at Eastern Europe Hun tribes from Central Asia invaded. Moving through Europe, the Huns drove the German tribes from their lands and forced the latter to occupy the territory of the Roman Empire.
The Romans allowed some Germanic tribes, including the Visigoths, to settle on the lands of the empire. The latter, in gratitude, were supposed to help the Romans fight the barbarians.
The collapse of the Roman Empire
In 395 g. e. The Roman Empire finally broke up into Western and Eastern. From then on Western Europe swept a lot of waves of barbaric invasions. In 410 AD e. Visigoths captured Rome, and in 455 AD e. the city survived the invasion of vandal warriors. They killed many Romans, burned most of the buildings, smashed statues and plundered all the treasures.
The death of the Roman Empire
In 476 AD e. the Visigoth leader Odoacer proclaimed himself king of Italy. The Western Roman Empire collapsed. The Eastern Roman Empire, with its capital in Constantinople, better known as Byzantium, lasted another thousand years.
Ancient Rome Culture
Painting in Ancient Rome
Portrait
Fun and games in Ancient Rome
Pictures (photos, drawings)
Statue of a she-wolf nursing Romulus and Remus (Capitoline she-wolf)
Ancient settlement in the Tiber Valley
Map of the Roman Republic
Senate meeting (part of the benches removed)
Senate coin
Crossing the Hannibal Alps in 218 BC e.
The city of Carthage is in flames
Julius Caesar
Statue of Emperor Augustus. Augustus is depicted in the armor of a Roman commander
Statue of Jupiter, supreme Roman god
German warrior
Statue of Diocletian and Maximian with their two deputies
Constantine is holding a model of Byzantium. Late mosaic
Hun warriors in battle
Visigoth settlers
Barbarian Invasion Map
The destruction of Rome by vandal warriors
