From its founding in 625 BC to its fall in AD 476, the Roman Empire conquered and integrated dozens of cultures.
The influence of these cultures can be seen in objects, such as oil lamps, made and used throughout the Empire.
By Roke (d) [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Animated map showing the rise and decline of the Roman Empire (Roke, 2006).
Key:
🔴Roman Republic (510 BC – 40 BC)
🟣 Imperial Rome (20 AD – 360 AD)
🟡 Eastern Roman Empire (405 AD – 1453 AD)
🔵 Western Roman Empire (405 AD – 480 AD)
The history of the Roman Empire can be divided into three key periods: the Period of Kings (625-510 BC), Republican Rome (510-31 BC), and Imperial Rome (31 BC – AD 476).
Founding (c. 625 BC)
Rome was founded around 625 BC in the region of ancient Italy known as Etruria and Latium. It is believed that the city-state of Rome formed when Latium villagers joined with settlers from the surrounding hills, possibly in response to an Etruscan invasion. The exact circumstances are unclear, but archaeological evidence shows significant unification around 600 BC, marking the establishment of Rome as a city.
Period of Kings (625-510 BC)
The first phase of Roman history is the Period of Kings, which lasted from Rome’s founding until 510 BC. During this time, Rome was ruled by six kings, and the city saw advancements in military, economic, and political areas. These included territorial expansion, military strength, and an increase in trade and production, such as oil lamps. The foundation of Rome’s early constitution was laid, and the period ended with the decline of Etruscan power, transitioning Rome into its Republican phase.
Republican Rome (510-31 BC)
Rome entered the Republican Period in 510 BC, replacing its monarchy with a government led by the upper classes, mainly the senators and equestrians. A dictator could be appointed during emergencies. In 451 BC, the “Twelve Tables” were created as a standard legal code. Rome expanded its influence, controlling the entire Italian peninsula by 338 BC. The Punic Wars (264-146 BC), along with conflicts with Greece, allowed Rome to dominate the Mediterranean by defeating Carthage and Corinth.
However, internal political instability led to civil wars. In 82 BC, L. Cornelius Sulla became dictator, and after his resignation in 79 BC, unrest continued. By 60 BC, Julius Caesar emerged as a key figure. By 51 BC, Caesar had conquered Celtic Gaul, expanding Rome’s borders beyond the Mediterranean. Although the Senate remained in place, its power weakened. Caesar’s assassination in 44 BC led to the rise of his heir, Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus (Octavian). In 31 BC, Octavian defeated Mark Antony and became Rome’s sole ruler, taking the title Augustus, marking the beginning of the Imperial era.
Imperial Rome (31 BC – AD 476)
The Imperial Period began with Augustus in 31 BC and ended with the fall of the Western Roman Empire in AD 476. During this era, Rome experienced extended peace, prosperity, and territorial expansion. By AD 117, the Roman Empire reached its greatest extent, covering parts of Asia Minor, northern Africa, and most of Europe.
In AD 286, the Empire split into the Eastern and Western Roman Empires, each with its own emperor. The Western Roman Empire faced Gothic invasions and was sacked by the Vandals in AD 455. Rome continued to decline until AD 476, when the Western Empire fell. The Eastern Roman Empire, known as the Byzantine Empire, endured until the 15th century, falling to the Turks with the conquest of Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul) in AD 1453.
