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The image above is a Triumphal Arch.
In Ancient Rome these arches were built
to honour great leaders or military
victories.
The image above is the Arch of
Constantine built in 315 AD.
Many of these structures were temporary
last from a few days to a few years.
However, we have record of 36
permanent arches that were built during
the Roman republic.
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Today only 5 Roman arches remain.
Throughout history many leaders and
nations have adopted the arch as a
symbol of honour and power.
Today some of the most famous
triumphal arches are located outside the
boundaries of the former Roman empire.
For example: Arc de Triomphe in Paris
and the Arch of Triumph in Korea.
Canada has several smaller arches. Ex:
National War memorial
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Historians know that Rome grew out of a
small farming village in the 10th century
BC (1000 BC).
However, the exact dates and timeline
for the development of Rome is
unknown.
Many historians use 509 BC as the start
of the Roman empire.
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There is evidence to suggest another date
for the founding of Rome.
According to legend Rome was founded
by two brothers, Romulus and Remus,
who were descendants of a Trojan prince.
The date derived from some ancient
sources is April 21, 753 BC.
It is said that the brothers (twins) were
abandoned near the Tiber river and
raised by a she-wolf.
As adults the brothers founded Rome in
the same spot as they were found by the
she-wolf.
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The Roman empire started and
developed slowly.
The Romans built their empire by slowly
annexing (taking over) new territories.
The Romans followed the same type of
expansion as the Persians.
However, their political system
resembled that of the Greeks.
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Previously to 509 BC Rome was nothing
more than a city state.
It is believed that early in Rome’s history
(before 509 BC) this area was inhabited
by the Etruscans.
The Etruscans lived in Rome for a very
long time roughly around 1200 BC.
Along with the Etruscans the Italian
peninsula was shared by the Latins,
Samnites and those from Campania.
Until 509 BC there was limited contact
between these groups (War).
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In 509 BC the Romans (a sub-group of
the Latins) took over the city of Rome
and forced out the Etruscans.
Once the city has been taken over the
Romans started to expand its territory.
According to Roman law, war was only
justified as defence.
This means that Roman armies would
attack and conquer territory as a form of
preventative measures.
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Therefore, as Rome expanded it needed
to attack and conquer more territory in
order to protect their empire.
Rome conquered territory in order to
prevent attacks against their empire
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Once Rome had conquered all of the
Italian peninsula they began expanding
outward.
One of the first foreign opponents that
Rome had to face was Carthage.
Carthage was a powerful city located in
Northern Africa.
Today Carthage would be located in
Tunisia.
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Originally Rome and Carthage fought
over control of Mediterranean trade
routes.
Rome and Carthage fought three wars
called the Punic Wars.
The First war started in 264 BC. The
third and final war ended in 146 BC.
In 146 Carthage surrendered fully
As result Rome destroyed the city of
Carthage and took over the surrounding
territories.
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Hannibal was the leader of Carthage
during the Second Punic War.
The war lasted for 218 BC to 203 BC.
Hannibal was actually the most
successful of all Carthaginian leaders.
Hannibal was a brilliant military leader
and tactician.
He had a strategy that used very quick
movement from place to place.
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Hannibal was famous for his use of war
elephants.
Hannibal landed in Gaul (France) and
marched through the Alps.
This journey cost Hannibal many of his
troops. Many died from lack of food and
the cold.
Hannibal marched all the way to Rome
defeating many of Rome’s armies along
the way.
Hannibal was finally defeated at the
Battle of Zama (203 BC)
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The Romans were a naval superpower at
the time.
The Carthaginians lost many ships to the
Roman Navy.
By 146 BC Carthage had fallen and Rome
expanded it’s empire.
However, Hannibal showed the Roman
leaders major flaws in Rome’s defences
and military mobilization.
Rome also acquired the understanding
and use of war elephants.
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Rome had a very powerful and wellorganized army.
Rome was able to use this army to keep
control over the territories that it had
conquered.
Rome’s institution, government, and
laws were constantly changing in order
to meet the new needs of the state.
State: country or government of a
country
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Over the span of only a few centuries
Rome had taken control of the entire
Mediterranean area.
Many of the enemies that Rome faced
were very strong.
Rome lost many battles during its history
however, they ultimately won wars due
to their persistence and organization
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With every war that Rome had fought
their army grew and became stronger.
This is because many enemies pledged
their allegiances to Rome and joined the
army.
Furthermore, Rome borrowed military
tactics and weapons from their enemies.
For example: War elephants from the
Carthaginians, short swords from the
Spanish tribes.
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Caesar started his public career as a
senator.
It was during this time that he
accumulated religious, political, and
military powers.
Caesar was an extremely successful
general and added much territory to
Rome’s empire.
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One of Caesar’s most famous military
campaigns was the Gallic Wars.
From 58 to 51 BC the Romans were at
war with the Gauls (modern day France).
Rome was victorious
After these wars Caesar gained more
power.
He became Rome’s first Emperor and
was assassinated shortly after.
His adopted son Augustus took over as
emperor.
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Rome was led by kings until about 509
BC.
Eventually these kings were overthrown
and a new system of government was
put into place.
The new system was called the Republic.
Magistrates and senators were elected by
the citizens of Rome, to hold very high
offices and powers.
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The republic lasted for approximately
450 years.
The republic was the pride of the ancient
world.
The Romans prided themselves on the
fact that their empire was ruled by the
people.
For nearly 450 years the republic was
able to prevent any one person from
gaining too much power.
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When a senator or magistrate was given
a high ranking office it was customary
for them to return power to the Republic.
Most high ranking offices had a term of 1
to 2 years.
Military offices were less defined.
Usually power was given back at the end
of a conflict.
If power was not returned people were
put in jail or exiled.
Some like Caesar were assassinated.
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During the Republic, Roman citizens
elected magistrates.
There was a citizen assembly but it did
not hold any official power.
The lowest office was that of Quaestor.
This office was in charge of finance.
There were 20 Quaestors.
The next office was the Aediles. There
were 4 and were in charge of
maintenance.
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The next office was that of Praetor, there
were 8 and were in charge of justice.
The final office was the most prestigious
and most powerful. Which was the office
of Consul.
There were 2 Consuls, and were in charge
of the military.
All of these offices had a 1 or 2 year term.
Once the term was over these magistrates
became senators.
There were 300 and were named for life.
Their were in charge of foreign policy
(war and trade with other territories)
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The Senate also supervised the
magistrates.
The made sure that no one person gained
too much power .
There were 10 Tribunes. These offices
were filled by plebeians only.
There role was to protect the plebeian
citizens. They could veto any law of any
magistrate if it proved to be unfair.
Veto: means to overrule, final say with
any issue.
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During the Empire the Emperor was the
head of the government and army.
The Emperor appointed senators and
governors to manage the empire and
apply laws.
Citizens still voted for magistrates.
However, the emperor could suggest
people he thought could do the job
During the empire citizens could vote on
laws proposed by the emperor.
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The Tribunes lost their veto power.
The Emperor held the final say (veto
power) on all matters.
Magistrates still kept their offices for a
term of 1-2 years.
Basically the Roman emperors kept the
structure of the government, but offices
held no official power.
Emperors passed down their power when
they died. Usually to their son or
adopted son or close male relative.
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During the height of the Roman Empire,
Rome was home to about 1 million
people.
Many elaborate building were
constructed for religious, political,
entertainment purposes.
All riches and wealth acquired during
war was used to make the city more
elaborate and luxurious.