Wondering how this big modern city has such a long and deep ancient history? Let’s look at a few fascinating Ancient Rome Facts that led to the city we know and love today.
Table of Contents
Romolo, The Birth Of Rome & First Roman Kings
1. The first human trace in the area we now call Rome dates back 325,000 years.
2. We often hear how the Etruscans were the first major population to settle in the area. Yet, they weren’t the only ones. Have you ever heard of these other populations: Falisci, Latini, Volsci, Arunci, Sabini, Equi, Ernici, and Rutuli?
3. One of Rome’s most important resources was salt, which was exchanged for other goods, so much so that the famous Via Salaria started here. This was an ancient commerce maritime route that led to the Adriatic.
4. Rome became what we know it today thanks to the phenomenon called Synoecism, whereby the different independent populations, which lived in different areas around the river Tiber and its hills, started dwelling together. That happened on the Palatine hill, and the person responsible for the dwelling might have been the so-called Romolo.
5. The palaces of the first kings of Rome were not the ones we are used to today. There were mere “capanne”, that is huts. The first remains of huts were found in the Palatine area. That group of huts is referred to “Reggia Palatina.”
6. Did you know that there are different hypothetical years for the foundation of Rome? Each one was sustained by a different historical character. These are the different dates:
- 729 BC according to Lucio Cincio Alimento
- 748 BC according to Quinto Fabio Pittore
- 753 BC according to Marco Terenzio Varrone
- 814 BC according to Timeo Tauromenio875 BC according to Quinto Ennio
The official birth date of Rome is 21st April 753 BC, the one proposed by Marco Terenzio Varrone, and confirmed by Astrologist Lucio Taruzio.
7. The first Roman Kings were considered Gods. Julius Caesar was one of the first ones.
Roman Architecture Built During Ancient Rome
8. Ponte Sublicio is the first ever built bridge in Rome, and it’s still standing. It dates back to the 7th century BC. However, the current bridge was rebuilt in the same location between 1914 and 1917. That first bridge during the period of Ancient Rome is attributed to Anco Marzio.
9. Anco Marzio is also the one who seemed to have commissioned the construction of the Ostia Port.
10. The Temple of Giove Ottimo Massimo is one of the first important public buildings to show the Etruscan power at the time.
11. Do you know why the Foro Romano, Roman Forum, is such an important building to this date? It’s because it’s considered the first proper political, administrative, and religious center of the city of Ancient Rome.
12. The second building in order of importance in that period is the Circo Massimo, which was built as a place of entertainment. It was the place for the Roman Games and the Gladiators’ Fights.
Conflicts & Power During Ancient Rome
13. During the 5th century Ancient Rome saw continuous conflicts between the Romans, the Etruscans, and two of the other populations established around the Tiber River – the Volsci and the Latini.
14. The tumultuous era continued in the 4th century with the first Sack of Rome, which occurred in 390 BC by the Galli. All the Sacs of Rome involved a lot of violence, destruction, and stealing.
15. After those tragic events, Rome was rebuilt pretty quickly. The entire process seemed to have lasted less than a century. This reconstruction period also included important additions to the city’s infrastructure, including more important roads and the first Aqueducts.
PS: If you’d like to see Aquecduts in Rome, head to Parco degli Acquedotti in Via Lemonia.
16. It’s also in this period, the 4th and 3rd centuries, that the Romans started decorating their buildings. In fact, it was at this time that marble imports started. Other building techniques were adopted, including the use of cement for the structure and bronze for decorating.
17. It was also at this time that the first proper politicians started to emerge. They were influential and rich characters that used their resources to build important infrastructure, so as to attract the support of the local people. A good example is Pompeo Magno.
18. Giulius Cesar too was a politician but he managed to take complete power in Rome and start his dictatorship. He also contributed to the restoration of Rome, by building the Curia (the Senate house), a square and a Forum in his name – Foro di Cesare, and a few more works. His dictatorship lasted only 5 years from 49 to 44 BC.
19. At this time, the population in Ancient Rome had reached the one million mark.
The First Pope & Roman Emperor
20. St. Peter was the first Pope of Rome to guide the Catholic Church. He was chosen by Christ and maintained that role from the early years after Dominus till the mid-60s when he died.
21. When we speak of the first Roman Emperor, Augustus, we are referring to a period after Christ, and no longer before it.
22. Augustus is also responsible for many important Roman buildings, including the more famous ones like his own forum, Foro di Augusto, and the Roman Forum. However, he also commissioned many other ones, each one honoring different family members. An example is the Portico of Ottavia, named after his sister.
Other Important Roman Emperors
23. The following emperors, including Nerone and those under the Flavian dynasty continued the construction and embellishment of the city of Rome. One of those buildings included the Colosseum, erected in 72 AC.
24. The emperor Traiano was the one who completed the majority of Rome’s architecture, including finishing the Roman Forum, and the Traian Markets.
25. The Pantheon and Castel Sant’Angelo were commissioned by the Roman Emperor Adrian.
26. The final two Roman Emperors to contribute to Rome’s current architecture were Massenzio and Constantine.
27. There were over 70 Roman Emperors, but these are the most important ones: Augusto, Tiberio, Caligola, Claudio, Nerone, Vespasiano, Tito, Traiano, Adriano, Marco Aurelio, Commodo, Caracalla, Massimino Il Trace, Valeriano, Aureliano, Diocleziano, Costantino, Giuliano, Teodosio, Giustiano.
28. Although Julius Cesar was the first figure to rule Rome, he was never an emperor because he took the role of a Dictator.
29. The first big Christian churches emerged under Constantine, but it took another century to start building the Basilica Papale of Santa Maria Maggiore.
30. Another Rome Sac occurred in 410 AC by the Visigoths. This time there was a lot more to steal. However, the worst one was yet to come.
The End of The Roman Empire
31. The first part of the Roman Empire, the Western side, fell in 476 AC. The reasons were many, but the main factors included corruption, the many years of invasions, and Constantine’s attempt to move Rome to Constantinople.
32. In this period of uncertainty, the Church started gaining more and more power, under Pope Leone I.
33. The other part of the Roman Empire, the Eastern one, lasted another 1000 years. The main reason was that the Eastern Roman Empire was more liberal, richer in natural resources, had a stronger and more united common social, cultural, and religious nucleus, was supported by a strong commercial activity, and didn’t have to endure the several invasions that had hit the other side of the empire.
It fell in 1453 due to the Turkish invasion.
More Italian History Resources
If you are in the midst of learning Italian history for school or just for your personal knowledge, have a look at these other articles I wrote:
Exploring Italian History’s 10 Most Defining Moments
The 53 Famous Italian People That Made History
Understanding The History Of Beautiful Florence
If on the other hand, you are planning a trip to Rome and want to learn more about the city’s history but also have the most amazing holiday, I have a wealth of useful posts on Rome – from food to best views.
