The City of Rome
History a question of geography
The foundation myth
Romulus and Remus are Rome's twin founders in its traditional
foundation myth. They are descendants of the Trojan prince and
refugee Aeneas, and are fathered by the god Mars or the demigod Hercules on a royal Vestal Virgin, Rhea Silvia, whose uncle
exposes them to die in the wild. They are found by a she-wolf
who suckles and cares for them. The twins are eventually
restored to their regal birthright, acquire many followers and
decide to found a new city.
Romulus wishes to build the new city on the Palatine Hill;
Remus prefers the Aventine Hill They agree to determine the
site through augury. Romulus appears to receive the more
favourable signs but each claims the results in his favour. In the
disputes that follow, Remus is killed.
BRONZE AGE TO IRON AGE
SETTLEMENT
Draining of the Marshes
Forum as the Civic Centre
Mountains, Hills and Plains
Regions, Rivers, Cities and Seas
Colonisation& Influence
The Etruscans 8th-7th century BC
B. The Greeks
Colonization,
750-550 B.C.
Southern Italy
Romanization or Acculturation
Romanization was essentially a political
and urbanizing process. Its benefit was that
it further allowed a process of acculturation
rather than assimilation not just tolerating
but embracing different art, architecture
and religious beliefs
MOVEMENT OF
SLAVES
MOVEMENT OF
SOLDIERS AND
CIVIL
SERVANTS
THROUGHOUT
THE
EAST/WEST
EXPANSION OF
TRADE
THROUGHOUT
THE WIDER
EMPIRE
All Roads lead to Rome
THE ROMAN EMPIRE
THE ROMAN EMPIRE BY 264 BC
THE PUNIC WARS
The First Punic War
264-241BC
The Second Punic
War 218-201BC
(Hannibal)
Battle of Zama and
Scipio Africanus
The Third Punic War
149-146BC
THE ROMAN EMPIRE BY 133 BC
Expansion East and West
Rome”s Expansion
under powerful
Generals
Marius
Pompey
Caesar
THE ROMAN EMPIRE BY 44 BC
THE ROMAN EMPIRE BY AD 284
Empire and Trade
How did Geography allow Rome
to grow as a city and become the
Center of the worlds largest
empire?