2 versions of the beginning The Myth: Romulus and Remus are the twin sons of a princess and the god Mars, born 800 BCE. The parents leave the babies in the woods to be raised by a she-wolf. The boys are found by a shepherd and his wife. Romulus kills Remus and goes on to become the founder of Rome The History: Latins settled on Palatine – a fertile place with good soil and climate – 1200 BCE The Etruscans later settled there and ruled for 200 years. The Romans overthrew the Etruscans in 509BCE and established a republic

Rome has conquered and controls all of Italy by 275 BCE The city-state of Carthage rules much of Spain, North Africa, and Sicily Rome and Carthage begin a war for more territory – Punic Wars The Romans fought the Carthaginians for control of the Mediterranean Sea General Hannibal – fierce warrior rides elephants into battle. He is defeated at Zama – Carthage loses all its territories to Rome By 146 BCE Rome was the leading power of the Mediterranean Sea

147 BCE Rome is BIG – lots of poverty, unemployment, huge gap between rich and poor Some in Rome want a powerful Senate to lead, but Julius Caesar wants to have total power. After other Generals give power to the army or senate, Caesar takes power and builds his own army Caesar conquers Britain, Libya, Egypt, Cyrenaica, Syria, Numidia, Asia Minor Caesar is very unpopular in the government because he is a dictator – killed by enemies on March 15, 44 BCE Beware the Ides of March

Julius dies and the power goes to 3 men – Marc Antony, Lepidus, and Octavian. Cleopatra likes Marc Antony. Antony and Cleopatra go to war with Octavian ( Caesar’s adopted son) – Octavian wins. Antony and Cleopatra commit suicide to avoid becoming prisoners. Octavian takes the title “Augustus” honored and brings to Rome the Pax Romana – Peace and Unity for the Empire He ends the expansion of the empire at defensible borders – English Channel, Rhine, Danube, Euphrates, Sahara Desert

Augustus’ successors accepted his foreign policies – defensible borders Roman Empire was its largest under Trajan in 117 AD 5 Good Emperors ruled between AD, after that civil wars began and the emperors lost control Diocletian divides the empire in 284 Barbarians began to attack Internal signs of decline included the gladiator games Constantine moved the capital of Rome to Constantinople and begins to move the empire toward Christianity