Rome became the most powerful empire of the Mediterranean for numerous reasons. The most significant advantage was the location where Rome resides. The location allowed them to become involved in the trade around the sea and build a stable economy, as well as succeed at agriculture and farming. Another reason for their success was the government system which started out as a democracy. Unfortunately, democracy didn’t last and therefore this same factor was the major contribute to the failure of the great empire. Constant warfare and victory expanded the territory and established the power of Romans. The Roman Empire gained control over the centuries using all of its advantages, however was brought down by the misuse of its government system.
The biggest advantage of Romans success was the location of their establishment. Italy is divided into eastern and western sides by Apennines mountains, which to the advantage are less rocky than the ones in Greece and therefore didn’t divide people into isolated communities, instead brought them together. The land in Italy was ideal for farming and for that reason it could support larger number of people based on the agriculture. Latium, on which Rome was located had access to the Sea and yet it was far enough bringing safety from pirates and invasions. Also, Rome was easily defended due to the locations of the seven hills. The neighbors of Italy were a large contribution to its development. Etruria, was one of the closest neighbors was populated with Greeks who arrived during the colonization in 750-550 B.C.E.. They refined olives and grapes, provided their alphabet and brought their culture and religion during the invasion of Romans. Etruscans were not the only ones conquered by Romans. There were other Greek colonies in the southern and northern part of Italy who were made as allies. Romans acted in a diplomatic way with the neighbors they defeated, establishing colonies and building roads to connect the settlements.
Romans started out their government as a democracy, in fear of having a dictator, or a monogamous ruler. Annually they chose two consuls who administered the government and led army into war. As the territory expanded they had to add on a government official to their Senate which originally consisted of three hundred elder patricians. One of the major internal conflicts Romans struggle...
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...e rich got a hold of all of the products leaving very little for the poor or trade. The Empire wasn’t expanding any longer, it was slowly falling apart.
The Roman Empire was the greatest and most powerful in the Mediterranean during its time. Romans had great advantages of the location of their residence, diplomatic attitudes and the right strategies in warfare. However they had struggles with the government establishment. They discriminated against plebians which at first helped in gaining land in return to promises of granting more rights to the plebians. Finally when democracy was established, the rich Aristocrats took over the land of Rome and used it only to their advantage. Thereafter, Caesars came along, and put an end to a democratic initiation. Monogamous power lead to the fall of Roman Empire. I think that Caesars were not the only option for Romans. It could have still had the power if a democracy existed. Not the kind of democracy they had, where the rich had all or the power, but the kind of democracy that exists in the United States. If they had divided the power between the rich and the poor, their Empire would have lasted for centuries to come.
From about 50 BCE to the year 200 CE, the Roman Empire was a powerful nation. Rome was the city that became the center of the Roman Empire and by 200 BCE Rome became a powerhouse. The Romans conquered Scotland to Spain, controlled the Mediterranean Sea, and established colonies in North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia Minor. By the year 44 BCE Julius Caesar became a Roman Emperor and Rome had a great military. Then around the 5th century CE the Roman Empire began to weaken. The primary reasons for the fall of Rome was because of the Roman Emperors, the Roman Army, and foreign invasion.
By the sixth century, Rome evolved into a republic, landowners, aristocrats and patricians overthrew the Etruscan king and religion governed the people, dictated the laws and legitimized the rule of the patricians. As they evolved the Romans loosened the grip between religion and politics and gradually implemented a constitutional system similar to the Greeks with interests on rational and secular politics and law. The sudden growth of the constitution arrived from a conflict known as the “Struggle of the Orders” between the patricians and the plebeians (commoners). The patricians owned most of the land and controlled the army.
For a long period of time, Rome seemed like an unstoppable empire. It conquered the majority of the land surrounding it, including Greece, Turkey, Iraq, and many of its other neighboring countries. It seemed as though Rome would conquer the entire world, as it was the center of it, until it began to decline in 476 C.E. The very aspects that made it so successful were the ones that caused its collapse. Various political, religious, and economic reasons caused its downfall. The fact that the entire economy of Rome collapsed and money became worthless was a major reason for the empire’s collapse. In addition, the loss of a common religion and lack of efficient ruling in relation to its vast territory affected the empire. The Roman Empire did not become so successful in a short period of time, and so its decline did not just happen overnight. Over several years all of these different aspects together caused the fall of the Roman Empire.
Between approximately 509 BCE and the third century CE the Roman empire continually expanded and became one of the largest in history. While this expansion was due to many reasons, not the least of which was greed, to a great extent it was made possible because of Rome's overwhelming military and its combination of a democratic and republic government. (Lee) (Ferril)
In all of Rome’s defeats, Greece was the most significant. The Romans adopted Greek customs and ideas as their own. This changed the society of Rome by developing a new culture and way of thinking. The Roman Empire was soon developed by the ideas of Augustus, leading to a more democratic way of governing. The Empire created an expansion of Roman civilization by its leaders conquering other civilizations. The Empire ruled for many years under many different Emperors. During this time there was a mixture of rule between a hereditary Emperor and a Senate.
The Roman Empire was strong for a time. It was founded on geography, family values, military strength, and wise leadership. It flourished because of social, economic, political, military and religious strengths. However, when the very things that make a civilization flourish start to decline, the civilization will also lead to a downfall.
The evolution of the government of Ancient roman civilization from its origins through the fall of the Roman empire can be categorized into 3 states. The first state was the Roman Kingdom which was governed by a monarchy, where the kings had absolute and sole power. The second state was the Roman Republic, which was governed by a republic where citizens elected representatives to rule. The third and final state was the Roman Empire which was governed by autocracy, there were still two branches of government the Senate and the Emperor but the Emperor had total power. When Emperor Diocletian ruled during the third century he appointed Maximum as co-emperor to rule the west, which essentially started the fall of the Roman Empire.
Although, many might say that the Roman Empire was already very successful even without the Greek influence, the Romans were already known for their very great army. The Romans were able to conquer so many lands and keep a great structure to the point where other communities feared them because of their army. It is true, Rome was already very successful they had conquered many lands before the Hellenistic period, and were already known to be a very rich and powerful community. Just as Chris Truman states on the website the History learning site where du...
The nature of government and political culture in ancient Roman society was similarly complicated as our our political infrastructure in modern day Western civilization. In addition, it had its own unique characteristics rendering it a mechanism of social ideal; one where the population was provided for, and at the same time ruled by an upper lass in the electorate.
The large democratic society use to elect their leaders, and at this time it was a republic before it become an empire, and ruled by Emperors. Also the leaders could not have to much power. It was seem as the same way as Athenian democracy, meaning that only adult male could vote, and they limited the vote of the poor people. They would elect two consult that would work together for a year. There was also senators, but they did not have the power that the consuls had. However been a senator it’s for life, whereas the consuls were only there for a year. With one important thing, all these members in this government had the sam object for their civilization, only the well being of the republic as well as the well being of the
The military might of Rome was second to none in its prime. Victorious battle after battle did nothing but increase Rome’s population of young men suited for combat, increase Rome’s borders, and increase Rome’s influence over its people and the surrounding people. With such great generals as Alexander the Great, Pompey the Great, and Julius Caesar Rome won many decisive battles. At its largest times, Rome controlled most of the Middle East, Asia Minor, present day Europe, and Egypt. It’s is hard to state that conquering and controlling all of the surrounding territory didn’t help aid in Rome’s great success. But would they have been so successful militarily if they didn’t have the trade routes or the technology?
The Romans have had almost every type of government there is. They've had a kingdom, a republic, a dictatorship, and an empire. Their democracy would be the basis for most modern democracies. The people have always been involved with and loved their government, no matter what kind it was. They loved being involved in the government, and making decisions concerning everyone. In general, the Romans were very power-hungry. This might be explained by the myth that they are descended from Romulus, who's father was Mars, the god of war. Their government loving tendencies have caused many, many civil wars. After type of government, the change has been made with a civil war. There have also been many civil wars between rulers. But it all boils
The Roman Republic was founded in 509 BC after the ruling Tarquins abused their extensive power as monarchs and were overthrown. The goal of the Roman Republic was to have a strong government, governed equally by the patricians and the plebians, and to avoid another Roman Monarchy. For years Rome was guided by great men, such as Cincinnatus and Scipio Africanus, who led the Republic through hard times, conquering such enemies as the Etruscans and the Carthaginians. Large-scale war united Roman society in its common goals. However, after Scipio’s victory at Zama in 202 BC, a new Roman world began to take shape. Roman soldiers returned home from their victory to find that they could not pay for their farms, becoming “squatters” on their own lands after having to sell them to richer men. The Senate became corrupted, and despite the Gracchi brothers’ best efforts, the rich patricians soon monopolized nearly all aspects of the Republic, from trading and “farming” to governing the people. After marching on Rome, Sulla became dictator in 82 BC. After Sulla, the First Triumvirate: Pompey, Crassus, and Caesar, owned virtually all power in Rome, yet each had his own desire to defeat the other two and become Emperor. When Crassus died in battle, Caesar had his chance. He defeated Pompey and marched on Rome, victorious. After declaring himself Dictator for Life, Caesar was assassinated, and another Civ...
Rome, on the other hand, started out with kings, and ended up a democratic republic. When the kings were deposed, the people elected two consuls. Where the kings ruled for life, these consuls only rule for a one year term. The kings was a rule by one and his power was complete authority in all matters, including life and death. Two consults, were elected, and held a life or death power over Latium and the military forces, but not the city of Rome itself. They did employ a dictator from time to time in war, but they could only serve for six months, as which point, the consuls again took over (Morey, 1901a). Their people were patriotic to Rome. They were not taken over fully but given certain rights and, in some cases, allowed to govern themselves, but show allegiance to
When the Roman Empire began, the pursuit of wealth helped to make it a great empire. Unfortunately, it also later lead to the downfall of the empire itself. For instance, it is known that foreign invasions endangered the empire because they didn’t have protection that the government should have provided. Why weren’t the leaders of the empire providing this protection? That leads to the second main reason of the downfall; the leaders in the government of the empire began to in a sense “only care about themselves.” They pursued wealth; they wanted the power, the money, and to be known. It came to the point where they weren’t paying attention to the needs of their people, therefore letting the empire begin to free fall. From this resulted urban decay, in a simpler sense, the city was decaying. Citizens were worse off than they had ever been and the streets were a dirty place to be.