According to legend, Ancient Rome was founded in the 8th century BC by the brothers Remus and Romulus, foundlings fed by a she-wolf. Romulus subsequently became its first king. Initially, the inhabitants of the city were called Latins. At an early stage, the state was ruled by people from the Etruscan tribe, the most developed nationality on the peninsula at that time. Around the 5th century BC. the last ruler of this dynasty dies and Rome becomes a Republic.
Roman Republic
The Republic was headed by two consuls, and the Senate was the founding council, which made all important decisions by voting.
By the 5th century BC Rome became the largest city in the Apennines. In the following centuries, he captured many small settlements nearby, and by the III century BC. e. The republic practically owned the Italian peninsula. In the 1st century BC e. senators,generals and tribunes alternately fought for power. The great general Julius Caesar started another civil war. Supporters helped him defeat his enemies and ascend to the throne.
Many were suspicious of the new ruler, and in 44 BC. e. the dictator was killed. However, he managed to lay the foundations, thanks to which the next 500 years, Rome developed and significantly expanded its territories. The end of the Roman Empire was still centuries away.
End of the Republic
The assassination of Julius Caesar led to the fall of the Republic and the beginning of the Empire. Let's take a quick look at the history of the Roman Empire from beginning to end.
In 27 B. C. Octavian Augustus takes the throne and becomes the first emperor. He took over control of the army and the appointment of new senators, and created powerful fortifications along the borders that stretched along the Danube River and reached Great Britain.
Tiberius (14-37), Caligula (37-41) and Claudius (41-54) succeeded each other without incident. However, the tyranny of Nero (54-68) led to the rebellion against him by the commander of the Spanish legions, Galba. When the rebel broke into Rome, he was supported by the Senate. Nero left the city in disgrace and killed himself with a knife.
Followed by the "year of the four emperors", because during this period the generals Galba, Otto, Vitellius fought for power. The struggle ended when Vespasian (69-79), the commander of the legions, took firm control. Then Titus (79-81) and Domitian (81-96) ruled.
It can be said that the beginning and end of the Roman Empire wereonly a sequence of events and dates. In fact, it only continued the Republic, and after the fall of Byzantium, the last stronghold of the Romans, the time has come for new states and kingdoms.
Peace and prosperity
After the death of Domitian, the senate elects Nerva as his successor. From this moment begins one of the happiest periods for Rome, which lasted from 96 to 180. The time called the reign of the "five good emperors" - Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antony Pius and Marcus Aurelius, when the empire was a strong and prosperous power.
The economy of Rome was booming. In rural areas, large farms were created and roads were built leading to all parts of the state.
After the death of Marcus Aurelius and the ascension to the throne of his weak son Commodus (180-192), a long and gradual decline began, which led to the end of the Roman Empire.
Important conquests
Between 264 and 146 BC Rome was at war with Carthage. These wars led to the fact that Rome conquered almost all of Spain and North Africa. In 146 BC. Carthage fell and was destroyed.
By 150 B. C. Rome added Greece to its lands, which became its richest province. Since distant lands could not be ruled directly, rulers called "proconsuls" were put in charge of the conquered territories.
Although the primary goal of Augustus' empire was to maintain neutrality, not conquest, some changes took place during his reign. In 44 AD Britain joins Rome andseveral small areas.
Achievements in science and engineering
Rome is famous for building roads that promoted trade and stretched all the way to the Silk Road. In addition, they allowed the armed forces to quickly reach remote areas.
Aqueducts were invented to supply water to cities. Water from fresh sources or reservoirs was directed along the aqueduct with a slight drop in level to ensure constant pressure. Once the aqueduct reached the city, plumbing of lead pipes led to fountains, public spaces, and even we althy homes.
Baths usually consisted of separate rooms for cold, warm and hot bathing. Water and floors were heated using special underground stoves. Caring for them was a difficult and dangerous job performed by slaves. As the popularity of bath complexes grew, they began to include saunas and gyms.
Despite all the achievements and advanced culture, a slow decline began, which led to the end of the Roman Empire.
Beginning of decline
In 192, the Praetorian Guard publicly betrayed the throne by killing Commodus. The victor, Didius Julian, ruled for a year until he was overthrown and executed by Septimius Severus. A talented commander, however, and he was unable to prevent the empire from plunging into chaos. Severus ruled from 193 to 211. He was replaced by several rulers who did not distinguish themselves in the history of a great power.
Then came the anarchy that overthrew Romeinto the abyss of disorder and chaos. Time of decline from 259 to 268 AD. called the “era of thirty tyrants”, when 19 different generals ruled one after another in a short period of time.
Further on the throne were Claudius II (268-270), Aurelian (270-275), Mark Claudius Tacitus (275-276), Probus (276-281) and Carus (281-283). In 284 AD Diocletian came to power, who further contributed to the end of the Roman Empire. The story begins with the decision to divide the empire.
The division of the empire and its decline
When Diocletian was on the throne, he first tried to break the empire into several autonomous regions. One of his successors, Constantine the Great, forever divided it into two parts: the Eastern, with the capital in Constantinople, and the Western, headed by Rome.
Constantine (311-337) gave freedom to Christians and promised not to persecute them again. He also became the first ruler to publicly convert to Christianity.
Dying, he handed over the empire to his three heirs: Constantine II, Constant I and Constantius II. However, the brothers were at enmity with each other, and the army soon revolted. After the uprising, the throne passed to John the Apostate (361-363), by whose will the empire was once and for all divided in half.
The date of the death of Rome is September 4, 476. Odoacer, a general of the Huns, led a mutiny among the mercenaries in Orestes' army. The Vandals invaded the city, and Odoacer forced Romulus Augustulus to abdicate and seized control of Italy. He relinquished the title, ending 500 years of Roman rule.
Eastern Roman Empirecontinued for nearly a thousand years. In 1453, the Turks stormed Constantinople and made it the center of the Ottoman state.
So the Roman Empire died out. The beginning and end of existence is considered to be the years 27-1453.
Holy Roman Empire
This state was a feudal monarchy that covered part of Western Europe. Its beginning is associated with the ruler of the Franks, Charles, who received the nickname "The Great".
After being attacked in the streets of Rome with threats of blinding and cutting out of his tongue, Pope Leo III secretly sneaks through the Alps to ask Charles for help.
Nothing is known about the outcome of the negotiations, but the king comes to Rome in 800. In St. Peter's Basilica, when Charles rises from his knees after praying, the pontiff places his crown on his head and proclaims him emperor.
After the death of Charlemagne, his heirs divided the empire into parts.
In 924, the empire was again left without a master until the coronation of Duke Otto I of Saxony on February 2, 962. From that moment on, the throne was inherited exclusively by the Eastern Franks, until the end of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806, due to the Napoleonic Wars.
Reasons for decline
Why did the Roman Empire end? This question still remains a stumbling block for many scientists. Most historians believe that the cause could be a number of factors that caused the slow extinctiongreat state.
People stopped volunteering for service, forcing the rulers to recruit mercenaries who were expensive and easily sold. Foreigners became part of the legions, including many generals. Over time, the barbarians learned Roman tactics that eventually turned against the empire itself.
Economic decline suggests a possible reason for the end of the Roman Empire. After Marcus Aurelius, the expansion of borders ended and the amount of gold entering the treasury decreased.
It is worth noting that Rome's greatest enemy was himself. Constant civil wars have led to instability and weakened borders. The Senate was removed from command of the troops in order to strengthen the power of the emperor, but this bled the army bled. Epidemics and a low birth rate have served to reduce the number of inhabitants.
Civil war broke out in Italy, and the army had to concentrate in one place, leaving the borders free for the invasion of the barbarians. Their invasion made it dangerous to move around the occupied lands, and the merchants refused to carry goods. Because of this, the final collapse of the empire came.
So, we have learned about the beginning and end of the Roman Empire. The dates of these two events are 27 BC. and 1453 CE
At the end of the 5th century, the Western Roman Empire collapsed after nearly 500 years of existence, only to be succeeded by Byzantium, which ruled the east for nearly a thousand years. The decline of this great state actually marked the end of the Ancient World and the onset of a new stage in the development of mankind - the eraMiddle Ages.
