Ancient Rome was a civilization which began as a small agricultural community on the Italian Peninsula in the 8th century B

straddled the Mediterranean Sea. In its twelve centuries of existence, Roman civilization was firstly a monarchy, then a repub
combined oligarchy and democracy, and finally became an autocratic empire. Through conquest and assimilation, it came to
entire Mediterranean Basin including the Near East and North Africa, the Balkans, and the Black Sea.

The Roman empire went into decline in the 3rd century AD, and began to collapse in the 5th century AD. Plagued by interna
migrating peoples, the western part of the empire, including Hispania, Gaul, and Italy, broke into independent kingdoms in th
empire, governed from Constantinople, survived this crisis, and remained intact for another millennium, until its last remains
emerging Ottoman Empire. This eastern, medieval stage of the Empire is usually referred to as theByzantine Empire by histo

Roman civilization was part of the period of classical antiquity, alongside ancient Greecea civilization that inspired much
Rome made significant contributions to the development of law, war, art, literature, architecture, technology, and language in
its history continues to have a great influence on the world today.

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Roman art is the sculpture, pottery, painting, and other art produced in Ancient Rome or in
territories under its rule from thefounding of Rome in the 9th or 10th century BC, through
theRoman Kingdom, Roman Republic, and Roman Empire periods, until the decline of the
Roman Empire by the 5th century AD. Influenced by the art of the Etruscans, ancient
Greece and theHellenistic world, and later by the art forms of countries it subsumed within its
empire (especially Ancient Egypt) or of civilizations which its empire bordered (e.g.
the Sassanid Empire).
The Romans were a practical people; in their original works, observation was key; portrait
sculptures (or at least, the heads of) are often meticulously detailed and unidealized. The
Romans also depicted warriors and heroic adventures, in the spirit of the Greeks who came
during and before them.
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The Roman Forum (Latin: Forum Romanum) was a rectangular forum at the heart of the
city of Ancient Rome. The Forum was used for military triumphs, elections, criminal trials,
gladiatorial matches, and as a meeting- and business-place. The Forum survives today in
ruins, and is the oldest structure in the modern city of Rome.
Photo credit: Howard Hudson

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[...] Caesar is a god in his own city. Outstanding in war or peace, it was n
few; than to have sponsored such a man, with whom, as ruler of all, you g

Augustus, his son, will ensure that he ascends to heaven as a god, and is

Why enumerate foreign countries or the nations living on either ocean sh

Ovid, Metamorphoses, XV, 745-842

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Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (December 15, 37 June 9, 68), born Lucius
Domitius Ahenobarbus, also called Nero Claudius Caesar Drusus Germanicus, was the fifth and
last Roman Emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Nero was adopted by his granduncle Claudius to become heir to the throne. As Nero Claudius Caesar Drusus, he succeeded to
the throne on October 13, 54, following Claudius' death.
Nero ruled from 54 CE to 68 CE. During his rule, Nero focused much of his attention on
diplomacy, trade, and increasing the cultural capital of the empire. He ordered the building of
theatres and promoted athletic games. His reign included a successful war and negotiated peace
with the Parthian Empire (5863), the suppression of the British revolt (6061) and improving
diplomatic ties with Greece.