Rome, the capital of Italy, is located in the west-central part of the country, on the Tiber River, 17 miles inland from the Tyrrhenian Sea. Rome is one of the most historical cities in the world because it has been a major center of civilization for over 2,000 years.
It was the capital of the Roman Empire and retained its importance during the Middle Ages as the seat of the papacy. In the 1500’s and 1600’s Rome became the center of the Italian Renaissance, and many magnificent palaces and churches, decorated with beautiful sculptures and paintings were built. It is still
The early history of Rome is from the myth of Romulus and Remus. It was believed that Romulus and Remus, who were sons of the war god Mars, were set afloat to drown in the Tiber River. They were rescued by a she-wolf and a woodpecker, which are both sacred to Mars, and raised by a herdsman and his wife. They grew up and became the leaders of a gang, and eventually founded the city of Rome on the same banks that they were rescued from. The story takes a turn for the worst here because it is said that when Remus jumped over the city’s wall, breaking one of the first rules made, his brother Romulus killed him. Romulus continued to rule his city, which he named Rome, until one day he mysteriously disappeared in a storm. The Romans believed that their leader had been turned into a god and started worshiping him. A bronze statue of a she-wolf was made in remembrance of the tale in early 5th century BC and is known as one of the greatest masterpieces of the time. Later, in 1509, two infants were put under the statue to signify Romulus and Remus.
This history, however, may have been "invented" by the romantic propaganda of a world-state in the first century B.C. and the first century A.D. out of a combination of legend, tradition, and the desire to provide a suitable pedigree for the new rulers of the world.
Modern analysis of the history of Rome, based on extensive archaeological research, indicates that the Romans were a local group of the Latins, one of the many Indo-European tribes who entered Italy shortly after 1000 B.C. These tribes are known collectively as the Italic peoples. The Romans were the inhabitants of a town that had a potentially advantageous location on the Tiber River at the last point upstream navigable by seagoing vessels.
Until the late 300’s B.C., Rome was an insignificant state, largely agricultural and almost entirely illiterate. For a long period the Romans were culturally influenced and even ruled by the Etruscans, their neighbors across the Tiber River.
The Romans were first ruled by a monarchy, which soon gave way to an oligarchy composed of heredity aristocrats. The aristocrats, like their counterparts in the early Greek polis, ruled by means of a permanent council of elders (the Senate), and a monopoly of the state’s judicial, executive, and religious offices. The mass of citizens met in assemblies, whose principal function was the ratification of acts promulgated by the aristocrats.
Rome reached its height between 375 and 275. It had control of the entire peninsula and was establishing colonies in many of the coastal areas. The loot from the conquests helped lower cost for the general public for building temples and roads. The city now had over 100,000 people living in it. In order to get water to everyone; the Romans built two huge aqueducts. They also had one of the most extensive road systems in the world. This network helped greatly in keeping the empire together. Then in 264 Rome went to war with Carthage for one hundred years. In the end Rome was the strongest power in the Mediterranean.
Unfortunately, Rome’s strength didn’t last. The population began to decline in the 2nd century due to a plague. Barbarian attacks s. It is estimated that two thousand s were slowly moving in. They then founded Constantinople as the new capital of the Roman Empire. This was a drastic show of the loss of power in Rome. There was however a short period of wealth again under the leadership of Diocletian. It can be seen by the elaborate bathing houses. Unfortunately it didn’t last long because in the 4th century Rome was under siege. It was heavily looted twice by Alaric but it is not thought that much damage was done to any of the churches or other great monuments.
In Rome, there was a very famous hill called the Palatine. This was the place were patricians-the aristocrats of Rome-built their luxurious homes. It is described as being one huge palace. Many of the famous leaders that we read about lived there such as Augustus and Domitian. The landscape there has captured the attention of many artists. They go there to paint romance, which seems to be the only way to describe it. Even though much of it is in ruins, the beauty of the Roman architecture can still be seen.
Modern Rome is the cultural, financial, and transportation center of Italy. It’s industries include engineering, chemical production, motion pictures, food processing, printing, and publishing. The current population of Rome is 2,817,000.
Sources :
Encyclopedia Britannica Online: Rome
Written by: Dana Mattson