Rome in Brief

Fifteen hundred years after its fall, ancient Rome continues to capture our imagination. How did this small Italian city dominate the world?

With its foundation steeped in the legends of Romulus and Remus, Rome emerged as a powerhouse of the ancient world. Captivating our imagination with larger than life figures such as Julius Caesar, Cicero, Pompey the Great and Vespasian, ancient Rome has left its legacy in our language, our culture, our laws and our beliefs.

Surviving records tell us of ancient warfare, vast armies and epic battles. From the first years of expansion to Anthony and Cleopatra, the Punic Wars, Hannibal and Hadrian, these awe-inspiring events take us on a journey of discovery through the ancient world.

First emerging in the eighth century BC, Rome was originally ruled by kings and heavily influenced by the neighbouring Etruscan civilisation. However, in the year 509 BC, the monarchy was overthrown and the Roman Republic declared. From that moment on the city began to expand, swallowing up nearby states and conquering hostile nations. A disciplined and skilful fighting force emerged as the leading military machine in western Europe, bringing to heal the Greeks, Carthaginians, Macedonians, Celts and Britons, as well as many more towns, cities and nations.

However, economic strains, civil wars, religious divisions and military failures would eventually lead to the downfall of this famous empire, leaving us with a legacy which can be seen in every facet of our daily lives.