Periodization of Ancient Rome. Key Dates and Events

Rome is located in the center of the intersection of shoppingways, around settlements near the Tiber River. Historians say that Rome originated in the IX century BC. e. As a small village, created by two central tribes of the Latins and Sabines. The periodization of Ancient Rome includes three main stages: the royal, the republican and the imperial.

The Legacy of the Etruscans

The Etruscans are an ancient tribe that occupieda huge territory of the Apennine peninsula (modern Tuscany). They created a large and developed civilization that stretched between the rivers Tiber and Arno. The culture of the Etruscans had a tremendous influence on the Romans, who inherited the largest part of their traditions and customs. This civilization preceded the Roman one and was much stronger than it. But it was the Romans who assimilated and destroyed the Etruscans. Periodization of Ancient Rome without Etruscans would have been impossible, because the Romans used all the legacy of their predecessors in order to create a powerful state.

Founding of Rome

The foundation of Rome begins with a legend about Romulus and Remus - two twins, who returned to their rightful place and avenged their grandfather Numitor.

In the middle of the II millennium BC. e. At the bottom of the Tiber, the tribes of Latin Sicles began to settle. Latins designated their territory as two hills - Palatine and Velia. The remaining hills were occupied by Sabines. Soon, the two tribes, as one might expect, united as a result of demographic and mercenary goals. VIII century. BC. e. became the century of unification of two tribes, which laid the foundation for a great empire. Together, the fortress of Rome was built, which is located on Capitol Hill. It is from here that the periodization of Ancient Rome begins.

If you go into the legend in detail, you shouldsay that among the Etruscans lived the vestal of Rhea. The fate has developed so that she gave birth to two sons from the god of Mars - Romulus and Remus. According to legend, Rhea was ordered to throw the children in a basket into the river. They sailed along the current and soon approached the Palatine Hill, where they were picked up by a wolf. The date of the founding of Rome - 753 BC. e. This year Romulus built on the hill Rome, and the she-wolf became a sacred and revered animal.

Tsarist period

The date of the founding of Rome marked the beginning of the royalperiod, during which the state rule 7 kings. The kings ruled in the following order: Romulus, Numa Pompilius, Tull Hostili, Anc Marcius, Tarquinius Priscus, Servius Tullius and Lucius Tarquinius Proud. Periodization of Ancient Rome without seven kings is unthinkable, because they laid the foundation of the future empire.

In the beginning, Romulus ruled together with Tatsiem - kingSabine, but after his death, Romulus continued to rule alone (753-715 BC). His reign is significant because he created the senate, managed to strengthen the Palatine and form a Roman community.

The second king, Numa Pompilius, was distinguished by a largepiety and justice. Tullus Gostilius was a warlike king who fought against the Fidenas, Sabines and Vejas. Anc Marcius expanded the borders of Rome towards the sea, strengthening relations with the Etruscans. He did not have a single war.

Tarquinius Prisk was an Etruscan. Rome was enriched with innovations in language, politics and religion. Tarquinium increased the senate by 100 people. He also fought with his neighbors and began a long process of draining the swampy terrain of the city. Servius Tullius was always a mysterious person, since even his origin remains a mystery. Tarquinius the Proud, son of Tarquinius Priscus, seized power through murder. He ruled cruelly and did not take into account the Senate's opinion.

The reign of Tarquinius the Proud and also the permissiveness of Sextus Tarquinius (son of the king) led to the decline of the tsarist government. To a large extent, this served as the Latin-Sabine patricians.

Founding of the Republic

The period of the republic was quite protracted, thereforehistorians divide it into two parts: the Early Roman Republic and the Late Roman Republic. The early Roman Republic is characterized by the power of the aristocracy and patricians, to which the plebeians - the descendants of the vanquished people - submitted. The plebeians had no rights: they were forbidden to carry arms, and their marriages were not recognized as legal. All this was aimed at depriving them of protection from all sides. The crisis of the Roman Republic was caused precisely by this confrontation between the patricians and the plebeians.

The Republican system did not change muchpolitical system of Rome. Instead of a lifelong king, power came to two elected consuls, who ruled just a year. At the end of their term, the consuls reported to the senate.

During the Early Republic, the Romans participated in thea series of wars that led to the seizure of Italy. Already by 264 BC. e. Rome became the most powerful power of the whole Mediterranean. The Late Republic was marked by a series of Punic wars that led the Romans to conquer Carthage. However, the crisis of the Roman Republic grew more and more.

The Roman-Samnic Wars (343-290 BC)

The Roman-Samnite War consists of three periodsand is a series of armed conflicts. The cause of the struggle in the first two wars was Campania - a beautiful and fertile region of Italy. The third episode of the war was caused by the elimination of the threat of the Samnites in Central Italy.

The revolt of Spartacus (74-71 BC.)

In Rome, the number of slaves has steadily increased,and their position in society has been proportionally deteriorating. These factors and the brutal rule of Sulla are the two main causes of the uprising of Spartacus. It began after the death of the ruler and reached a huge scale. Fugitive slaves were constantly coming to the army of Spartacus, who were trained by the gladiators. With his army, the insurgent went through Italy and intended to cross over to the island of Sicily, but was deceived by pirates. It was a large-scale uprising that showed courage and thirst for the freedom of slaves.

As a result, the uprising was strangled. Spartacus himself fell in battle, and all the minions were crucified on the crosses along the Appian road to the edification of the rest.

Guy Julius Caesar

Gaius Julius Caesar was a dictator, then a consul,until he became the Great Pontiff of the Roman Empire. He had a great influence on the empire in her last years. Caesar came from the tribe of patricians, so from birth was endowed with a certain power.

He was a cunning politician and bribed the people in every possible way. This worked perfectly, and he had a strong support among the common people. The dictatorship of Caesar was coveted and sung by all. He demonstrated his talents as a great commander and strategist in the Gallic War, defeating the Germans.

He made many campaigns, expanding the boundariesempire. Caesar was cunning, but cautious. Historians note his gift as a speaker, as he many times raised the morale of the soldiers with a brief speech. Caesar left behind several works that are recognized as classics of Latin prose (Notes on the Gallic War and Notes on the Civil War). His work had a huge impact on the development of Western Europe.

Fall of the Republic

The fall of the republic was inevitable, sincediscontent with the old order is constantly growing. The power of the Senate ceased to be fair, it was concentrated in the hands of several noble families. It was obvious that the republican system is not suitable for a huge power. Not only ordinary people suffered from harassment from the authorities. As a result of almost a century of discontent, the republic fell. The main role in this was played by the army.

Empire

The main ruler of Rome was recognized as emperordue to the fact that the old government was overthrown by the army (previously commanders were called emperors). The first century, three in Rome remained republican order. The emperor was chief in the senate and was called "princeps." Initially, the Roman Empire was quite democratic, and all power remained in the Senate. The first emperor of Rome was Octavian Augustus. He completed the formation of a professional Roman army, which lasted about a century. The soldiers were supposed to serve 20-25 years, not having the right to start a family and living on a regular allowance.

Dynasty Julius-Claudius began Tiberius ClaudiusNero - the second emperor of Rome, which greatly expanded the boundaries of their possessions. Separately, it is necessary to single out the third emperor - Caligula, who ordered to be called “god” and implanted the imperial cult. He lived in a big way and spent a lot of money from the treasury on representations for the lower strata of society. His reign caused general indignation, and he was killed as a result of another conspiracy.

Then came the Flavian dynasty to power in Rome,which adequately defended its territory and expanded its borders. She is also known for having built her own theater - the Colosseum. Then ruled the dynasties of the Antonins and Severs.

Flavian dynasty and the Colosseum (69-96 BC)

This dynasty built the world famousthe construction is the amphitheater Colosseum, which is located between three hills. The construction of the building required 8 years of hard work. The opening of the Colosseum in Rome was marked by large-scale gladiator games. Many historians of antiquity describe the discovery of the amphitheater as a large-scale and spectacular performance.

It should be noted that the name "Colosseum"appeared only in the VIII century. There are two versions of this name. The first is in the size and grandeur of the building, and the second version says that the name comes from the huge statue of Nero, which he erected in his honor.

In the Colosseum, gladiator fights, maritimegames and baiting of animals. All this was arranged on holidays or in honor of the arrival of famous guests. In 217, the building suffered from a strong fire, but it was restored by order of Alexander Sever.

Dynasty Antonins

The reign of the Antonin dynasty is consideredmore or less stable for rome. In the history of Antonina are known as the "five good emperors." The Roman Empire during the reign of the Antoninus dynasty reached its peak. Peace was achieved in relations with the Senate, autocracy was finally recognized. As for foreign policy, Rome maximized its borders.

The reign of Antoninus Pius (96-192 BC)

The reign of Emperor Antoninus Pius is characterized byunprecedented flourishing of small settlements and provinces. He was open and accessible to each of his subjects, and this greatly attracted the people to him. His activity in the sphere of legal relations served to the fact that at the beginning of the III century Roman law began to develop by leaps and bounds. The emperor was assisted by 5 well-known lawyers who were able to take Roman law to a new level. He also introduced an important principle, which stated that before the trial people could not be considered guilty of anything.

Also, Pius raised the issue of the status of slaves insociety, equating slave slaughter with ordinary crime. Moreover, the slaves who sought refuge in the walls of the temple could not return to their masters. The emperor mitigated torture for slaves, and also forbade taking children under 14 years into slavery. He also introduced a law that argued that daughter’s preferences should be taken into account when concluding a marriage contract. The reign of Pius was recognized as very humane, which was influenced by the influence of Greek philosophy and Stoicism.

Marcus Aurelius

Board of Emperor Marcus Aurelius from the dynastyAntoninov largely relied on the postulates of Antoninus Pius. Marcus Aurelius always emphasized respect for the Senate, paid great attention to the right. He supported low-income families, developed philosophy. By nature, he was calm, but life forced him to participate in hostilities.

Fall of the empire

The collapse of the Roman Empire took place against the backdrop of the collapseWestern Roman Empire. The reason for this was the attacks of the barbarians on the whole territory of Rome. The year 476 of the fall of the Roman Empire became a historic date, which marked the full completion of the history of Rome. Visigoths and Ostrogoths, Burgundians and Vandals actively invaded the territory. Over the years, pressure on the empire by the Germanic tribes only intensified, and 476 the fall of the Roman Empire became the apogee. Soon, the Roman throne became a tempting toy for barbarian commanders.

The chronology of the history of ancient Rome is full of terrible,strange and bloody events. But without going through all these stages, Rome would not have become a powerful empire that could have a huge impact on the whole world. He left a large number of cultural memos, as well as the invaluable works of his best emperors and philosophers.