Rome

Rome is the capital of Italy and one of the most historically significant cities in the world. Its legendary founding dates back to 753 BCE when Romulus, after killing his twin brother Remus, established the city on the Palatine Hill. Rome grew from a monarchy to a republic and later became the center of the Roman Empire, which dominated much of Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East for centuries.

Key Historical Periods:

• Monarchy: Rome’s early kings included Numa Pompilius, who established many religious practices, and Tarquin the Proud, whose expulsion in 509 BCE led to the foundation of the Roman Republic.

• Republic: Rome became a republic with elected consuls and a Senate. Social struggles like the Conflict of the Orders resulted in reforms, including the creation of the Twelve Tables, Rome’s first codified laws.

• Empire: The Republic gave way to the Roman Empire after the rise and assassination of Julius Caesar. Under Augustus, Rome entered its imperial phase, marked by monumental construction and territorial expansion.

Significant Features:

• Infrastructure: Rome is famous for engineering feats such as aqueducts, the Appian Way, and the Colosseum.

• Seven Hills: Rome was built on seven hills, including the Palatine and Capitoline.

• Religion: It became a key center of Christianity, housing Vatican City, which was established as an independent state within Rome by the Lateran Treaty in 1929.

Rome has been central to countless historic events, including the Punic Wars, the rise of Christianity, the sackings by the Visigoths and Vandals, and the unification of Italy in the 19th century.

Practice Fill-in-the-Blank:

1. Romulus and 1 are the legendary twin founders of Rome.

2. Rome is famously built on seven hills, including the 2 Hill.

3. The 3 were Rome’s first codified laws during the Republic.

4. The overthrow of 4, the last king of Rome, marked the start of the Republic.

5. The 5 Way was a key Roman road connecting the city to southern Italy.

6. The 6 Treaty of 1929 established Vatican City as an independent state within Rome.

7. The 7, led by Brennus, sacked Rome in 390 BCE.

Answers:

1. Remus

2. Palatine

3. Twelve Tables

4. Tarquin the Proud

5. Appian

6. Lateran

7. Gauls

1. The city of Rome as the capital of Italy and the center of an ancient empire – 34 occurrences

• Rome is highlighted for its foundational role in shaping Western civilization as the heart of the Roman Empire and later the capital of unified Italy. Its cultural, political, and military influence stretched across Europe, the Mediterranean, and parts of Africa and Asia.

2. The Conflict of the Orders between patricians and plebeians – 25 occurrences

• This refers to centuries-long struggles for political and social equality between the aristocratic patricians and the lower-class plebeians. Milestones included the creation of the Tribune of the Plebs, veto powers, and the Hortensian Law (287 BCE), which made plebiscites binding on all Romans.

3. The Gracchi brothers advocating for reforms – 22 occurrences

• Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus, serving as tribunes in the 2nd century BCE, sought to redistribute land and reform Rome’s economy to help the plebeians. Their efforts led to political turmoil, riots, and their eventual deaths, but their actions foreshadowed later reforms during the Republic’s decline.

4. Tarquin the Proud as Rome’s last king and the overthrow of the monarchy – 20 occurrences

• Lucius Tarquinius Superbus was overthrown in 509 BCE after his tyranny and the assault on Lucretia spurred a revolt. This marked the birth of the Roman Republic, governed by consuls, senators, and a system of checks and balances.

5. Rome as the site of the Lateran Treaty, establishing Vatican City’s sovereignty – 18 occurrences

• Signed in 1929 between Mussolini’s Italy and the Holy See, this treaty recognized Vatican City as an independent sovereign state. It resolved the "Roman Question," ensuring peace between the Italian government and the papacy.

6. The myth of Romulus and Remus and the founding of Rome – 17 occurrences

• Twin brothers, Romulus and Remus, raised by a she-wolf, are said to have founded Rome in 753 BCE. The myth ends with Romulus killing Remus and becoming Rome’s first king, establishing the city's early cultural and legendary identity.

7. The Twelve Tables as a legal codification in early Rome – 15 occurrences

• Created in 451–450 BCE, the Twelve Tables were Rome’s first written laws, addressing civil rights, property, and justice. These laws were pivotal in reducing class conflict and provided the foundation for Roman law and governance.

8. Sacks of Rome by various groups (e.g., Gauls, Vandals, Visigoths) – 14 occurrences

• Rome suffered multiple sackings:

  • 390 BCE: The Gauls under Brennus.

  • 410 CE: The Visigoths led by Alaric.

  • 455 CE: The Vandals under Genseric. These sackings symbolize both the city's resilience and the decline of its imperial power.

9. The Appian Way and other Roman infrastructure achievements – 12 occurrences

• The Appian Way, Rome’s first major road (312 BCE), connected the city to Southern Italy, showcasing Roman engineering. Other marvels include aqueducts, bridges, and the urban layout of insulae (apartment buildings).

10. Rome’s establishment on seven hills and near the Tiber River – 10 occurrences

• The seven hills of Rome (e.g., Palatine, Capitoline, Aventine) served as the city's foundation. The proximity to the Tiber River provided water, trade routes, and a strategic position for growth.

11. Rome’s transition from Republic to Empire – 10 occurrences

• Following civil wars and power struggles, Julius Caesar’s assassination in 44 BCE marked the Republic’s decline. Octavian (Augustus) established the Roman Empire in 27 BCE, becoming its first emperor and centralizing authority.

12. The Vestal Virgins and their role in Roman religion – 9 occurrences

• These priestesses tended the sacred fire of Vesta, goddess of the hearth. Their purity symbolized Rome’s stability, and their failure to maintain chastity was severely punished.

13. The Circus Maximus and Colosseum as landmarks of Rome – 8 occurrences

• These monumental structures hosted chariot races (Circus Maximus) and gladiatorial combat (Colosseum). They were symbols of Roman entertainment and architectural prowess.

14. Rome as the center of the Papal States and its relationship with the Vatican – 7 occurrences

• As the heart of Catholicism, Rome was integral to the Papal States until the 19th century. The Vatican's influence over the city continues to this day.

15. Rome’s fall and the broader decline of the Western Roman Empire – 6 occurrences

• The Western Roman Empire fell in 476 CE when Romulus Augustulus was deposed by Odoacer. Contributing factors included economic decline, internal strife, and external invasions.

16. Rome’s expansion through the Italian Peninsula during the Republic – 5 occurrences

• Through conflicts like the Samnite Wars and alliances, Rome unified Italy by the 3rd century BCE, setting the stage for its Mediterranean conquests.

17. Rome as the setting for major historical speeches (e.g., Marcus Junius Brutus and Cicero) – 4 occurrences

• Speeches such as Cicero’s orations against Catiline and Brutus’s funeral address for Caesar exemplify Rome’s political drama and rhetorical tradition.

18. The Servian Wall and other defensive measures in ancient Rome – 3 occurrences

• Built in the 4th century BCE, the Servian Wall protected the early Republic. It symbolizes Rome’s transition from a vulnerable city-state to a dominant power.

19. Rome during the Risorgimento and its unification into modern Italy – 3 occurrences

• Rome became Italy’s capital in 1870 after Garibaldi’s campaigns and the withdrawal of French troops during the Franco-Prussian War.

20. Rome’s conquest of neighboring cities like Alba Longa – 2 occurrences

• Early in its history, Rome defeated rivals like Alba Longa to dominate the Latin League, securing its regional hegemony during the monarchy.