In the seventh century BCE, the people living in hilltop villages along the Tiber River were united by a common language and way of life. These villages eventually expanded and united to form the city of Rome. 

The Etruscans gained control of Rome by 600 BCE and brought advances in farming, a system of writing, the arch, religion, and knowledge of metals to the Latin people. The Etruscans established Rome as a monarchy and ruled as kings until they were overthrown in 508 BCE. 

In place of a monarchy, the Latins sought to devise a government where the people would play an integral role. The Romans established their first written law, The Twelve Tables. The struggle for power between the Plebeians and the Patricians resulted in a balance of power and the Republican form of government. This period in ancient Roman history is known as the Republic Era, and its influence can be seen in many of our founding documents and governmental structure. 

During this era, Rome was conquering Italy and the surrounding areas. Carthage, a Phoenician city on the Northern shore of Africa, soon became Rome’s adversary over the control of the Mediterranean Sea during the Punic Wars (264 BCE–149 BCE). The First Punic War lasted 23 years; as the result, the Carthaginians were forced to concede the island of Sicily to the Romans. The Second Punic War, also resulted in a Roman victory and the end of Carthage’s Empire. The Carthaginians attempted to rebel during the Third Punic War and were once again defeated. Rome became the most important influence in the Mediterranean, and by 50 BCE, Rome had established provinces in Spain, Greece, Asia Minor, Macedonia, Gaul and Northern Africa. 

Domestically, Rome was having serious problems. Farmers had left their land to fight the Punic Wars. Upon their return, the farmers lacked the resources to repair their farms and were unable to gain employment in the cities due to the large number of slaves captured during the wars. As the numbers of poor and unemployed grew, so did the desperation of the slaves to gain their freedom. Conflicts broke out between the rich and the poor. Concurrently, the Roman army evolved into a powerful entity whose loyalty lay with the generals who paid them, rather than with the city of Rome. Due to these circumstances, Julius Caesar was able to gain control over Rome and declare himself dictator, thus ending the Roman Republic Era. 

After the assassination of Julius Caesar, there followed a power struggle that led to a stable Roman Empire under Augustus. From 27 BCE to CE 180 was a remarkable time, known as the Pax Romana (the Peace of Rome). This time of peace and prosperity was established in part by the intelligent and thoughtful rule of the first emperor, Augustus. Augustus restored order in the city of Rome and supported the further expansion of the empire. At its peak in CE 117, the Roman Empire had a population of 60 million, which was more than 1/5 of the total world population. During this time, Christianity began to spread, and its followers were persecuted by the Romans. Many Romans saw the Christians as a threat to Roman order and patriotism. Eventually, Christianity was declared illegal, though it continued to flourish. 

It was a monumental undertaking to maintain control over the empire. As a result, the Romans granted citizenship over the people in the provinces and even allowed for representation of the provinces in the central government. The Pax Romana ended with the death of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius. This signified the beginning of a period of decline when military leaders fought for power. The economy was disastrous, and prices were out of control. In addition, the empire was under attack by external tribes and food was scarce. Poverty and unemployment increased, and trade was disrupted by the barbarians. By CE 284, the empire was in a state of disintegration. In an attempt to improve domestic and foreign affairs, Emperor Diocletian divided the empire into two parts, the Eastern Empire and the Western Roman Empire. 

In CE 324, Emperor Constantine reunited the empire and established a new capitol in Constantinople. He also declared that Christians could openly practice their religion. By then there were over 5 million Christians in Rome. Many people, including the poor and slaves, converted to Christianity, believing that a better life after death would await them if they followed the teachings of Jesus. 

Constantine died in CE 337, and by CE 400 the empire was permanently split into two halves. Christianity had become the official religion (394 CE). The Eastern Roman Empire, with Constantinople as its capitol, lasted for an additional 1,000 years, while the Western Roman Empire was near its end.