The Romans: topic summary

Locate Italy on a European map and Rome on the River Tiber. This was where the Roman civilisation developed between about 700-800 BCE. Rome was at first a republic ruled by elected leaders but later came under the control of powerful Emperors and statesmen like Julius Caesar, Claudius and Constantine. Rome went on to conquer much of the known world at that time and reached the peak of its thousand year rule under the Emperor Trajan around 100-120 BCE.

Roman power was established and maintained by a strong, well-disciplined and highly trained army that used the best and most powerful weapons of the time. Many soldiers were Roman citizens but they also used mercenaries (soldiers from other countries who would fight for them for money and power). Roman armies were split into smaller sections called legions and cohorts and were able to march long distances quickly as well as build defensive walls and forts to defend their Empire.