Rome Travel Guide - History

There was a time when the Roman Empire spanned most of the discovered world and although the Empire’s power eventually waned, it left a lasting legacy on the world through military power, artistic appreciation and religious domination. Today of course Rome dœesn’t wield such power, but the history is there to be seen throughout the city.

Rome grew from humble origins, as a small village desperately trying to prevent itself falling under the power of the Etruscans who were the dominant ruling people in Italy in around 600 BC. The location of Rome, on the Tiber River where the salt trade passed through, was of great strategic importance and enabled the village to prosper.

Rome’s power increased rapidly and was the capital of the Roman Empire that by 49 BC ruled the entire Mediterranean region. All political and commercial strategising was focused on Rome in this the time of Julius Caesar. Caesar was stabbed to death by Brutus in 44 BC and power in Rome switched to Marc Anthony who had ambitions to continue the expansion of the empire, but this changed when he met Cleopatra in 41 BC.

The reign of Augustus from 27 BC to 14 AD is regarded as something of a Golden Age for Rome. As the first, and perhaps most important of the Roman Emperors, he ended the period of civil wars, bringing peace and prosperity to Rome. The emperors who followed Augustus built on this, taking Rome to a position of extraordinary power, wealth and influence.

By 395 there were two competing factions within the Roman Empire; the eastern and western sections, Constantinople and Rome. The Goths were able to take advantage of this split, leading to the sackings of Rome led by Alaric in 410 AD.

Pope Leo I managed to persuade Attila the Hun not to attack in 452 AD, but this was merely delaying the inevitable, the city was razed a few years later and the western Roman Empire struggled to hold on to power for another 20 years, until Romulus Augustus was deposed as Emperor. The Eastern Empire managed to continue until the fall of Constantinople in 1453.

There was plenty of instability in Italy with independent regions governed by different laws and armies. Napoleon made a failed attempt to conquer Italy in the late 18th century, and Mussolini ruled with an iron fist for 20 years until he was overthrown in 1945.

Today, Rome is a more peaceful place and it remains a place of global significance, with millions of people attracted to the city each year by his history. While Rome might not have the power it had at the height of the Roman Empire, the Vatican within the city still exerts huge influence.