In all of history, Rome was arguably one of the most powerful empires to ever exist. At its peak, the Roman Empire, which existed for nearly one thousand five hundred years, spanned across three continents and nearly six million five hundred thousand square miles of land. Rome’s official language—Latin—served as the origin for the five current Romance languages today, displaying its massive influence across the entire world. In fact, Rome’s system of a republic served as the origin for many democracies and governments in existence today. In order to expand this far, however, Rome adapted to become the most powerful empire in regards to military strength and magnificent landmass. In order to arise as a major world power, Rome had to make its …show more content…
power known through military conquest of other peoples. One major factor in Rome’s growth were the Punic Wars. The Punic Wars heavily impacted Rome by leading to the growth of the empire and successfully increasing Rome’s power not only domestically but abroad as well. Through these wars, Rome was able to gain power over the Mediterranean by conquering surrounding lands, expand its territory monumentally, and change the typical social classes among the citizens by increasing inequality present in society between the aristocrats, farmers, and slaves. Through the Punic Wars, Rome was able to expand its territory tremendously, moving beyond the confines of Italy and increasing its power both regionally and internationally. The Punic Wars began with a great conflict between Carthage and Rome over the island of Sicily (Cary). While the First Punic War began over merchants in the region, this victory allowed Rome to gain the upper hand by winning this territory in 264 BC (McGill). In the words of Titus Livius, “The Carthaginians had the superiority in numbers,” therefore one of the first lands that Rome needed to conquer was the Carthaginian territories, for Carthage proved to be a threat to Rome’s power in the surrounding region (Lazenby, Livius). Polybius, a renowned historian, noted that even after their defeat in Sicily, the Carthaginians were “ready to adopt any measures against Rome” (Polybius). Conquering Carthage would be a display of Rome’s stronghold on power both regionally and internationally, for Carthage proved to be competition for Rome in regards to military strength, trade, and land. Aside from Carthage, Rome gained lands beyond the Italian Peninsula. Rome also gained control over many bordering territories of the Mediterranean, including Spain (Lazenby). This expansion of territory led to cultural diffusion, spreading Roman customs and traditions to those people that they conquered. Through these wars and expanded territories, Rome spread its influence across the region, both culturally and politically. This diffusion increased Rome’s sphere of influence as well as its reputation in the international community. In the words of Polybius, “All must submit to the Romans and obey their orders,” when Rome conquered a territory, they did so with an iron-fist, imposing their laws and traditions over all the land and people (Polybius). Furthermore, by conquering more land and people, Rome gained access to a new variety of trading markets, enriching both the Roman people and the government alike. This influence, however, was not just one-sided. In addition to culture, Rome learned new military techniques through interaction with conquered peoples (Sabin). For example, when Rome was confronted with the renowned Carthaginian navy, instead of backing down, they wisely seized a ship from the opposing navy and made a replica. This expert move set the path for success and allowed the Roman people to overcome one of the strongest navies at the time. After the wars, Rome was one of the strongest ruling powers with the exception of China (Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia). Overall, the Punic Wars lead to the destruction of other threats toward Rome, as with the Carthaginians, increasing their dominance over neighboring peoples, establishing Roman rule over a many new territories, and expanding Rome’s international presence as a whole. Moreover, when the people of Rome witnessed their empire’s success in the Punic Wars, their confidence in Rome grew significantly, amplifying Rome as a domestic power. Their confidence lay not only in war tactics but also their victories (Britannica). Because of the Roman’s tremendous success against an equal power—the Carthaginians—the people of Rome trusted their government and leaders to protect them in times of war as well as peace. This is significant because the Roman’s trust created a sense of legitimacy in the government, which diminished the likelihood of rebellion among Roman citizens. This legitimacy, in turn, led to stability in Rome among both the leaders and the people, allowing Rome to focus on expansion rather than quelling domestic disputes. Additionally, through this mutual trust, the military began to obtain new soldiers by recruiting them and promising benefits for their services. The recruited soldiers would be offered land from their military leaders, yet another example of loyalty which spread into everyday life. These so called “citizen-soldiers” were extremely loyal to Rome, especially in regards to their fighting skills. Lastly as a result of the Punic Wars, the military was further adapted, for the generals broke the large units into legions, implying that soldiers are instead fully controlled by their specific leaders (Sabin). This adaption enabled Roman generals to ensure loyalty and discipline among their soldiers, which better prepared Rome for future battles. Additionally, the Punic Wars and their economic effects prompted a massive change socially among the Romans in regards to social classes, redefining the roles of farmers, aristocrats, and slaves.
After the Second Punic War, Rome was in massive debt. As Plutarch describes, “The first conflicts of this war brought great victories and also great disasters to the Romans,” outlining the benefits yet also downsides of war for the Romans (Plutarch). This holdback increased to an even greater extent, for Rome experienced massive devastation at the hands of Hannibal as he famously marched over the Alps with his Carthaginian army riding on elephants (McGill). This not only devastated Rome as a society but also ruined its land. Yet, as a result of this economic downfall, the farmers moved from their rural farmland to cities in order to look for work, leading to Roman urbanization. Because of shift of common farmers from farm to city, the aristocrats took over the devastated land for a relatively cheap price, creating a new sector of landowners with large plots of land while leaving others without any or too little land to compete with these mass producers. With these new plots of land, aristocrats needed laborers to work the land, so they replaced the farmers with slaves. This then led to an extreme change in the social system of Rome, for the slaves were unpaid, creating a wealth gap, and the farmers in the city remained unemployed, furthering inequality in Rome. While the aristocrats became wealthier with unpaid laborers, the farmers became poorer as they unsuccessfully located jobs in the city, and severe social change overtook Rome, increasing inequality and the wealth gap in society (McGill). However, this shift did have a positive outcome for Roman citizens and society as a whole. In order to employ the debt-ridden farmers, Rome declared war on Greece, providing its citizens with military-based jobs as well as further expanding the Roman territory. This adaption marks
a moment of growth for Rome, for when in a time of need, the government responded to its citizens and provided them with opportunities to resolve their debt. Additionally, with slaves working on the farms, Romans who did not join the military would find other means of employment, expanding the diversity of Rome’s economy and making it into a more developed society. On a similar note, when these “citizen-soldiers” returned from their military service, they often preferred life in the city, again marking a shift from agriculture to more skilled labor and increasing the population in the city of Rome itself. In conclusion, the Punic Wars significantly impacted the growth of the Roman Empire. By expanding the Roman territory across the Mediterranean through land conquered in the Punic Wars, Rome was able to significantly increase its power at the global and domestic level. Rome’s success in the Punic Wars enabled them to eliminate significant competition in the surrounding region and also spread its culture to other conquered peoples. In addition to the increase of power, Rome, through its victories in the various wars, established trust with its people, for they felt pride and comfort in the fact that Rome could care for their needs, which strengthened the empire as a whole. Lastly, the Punic Wars, namely their devastation to Roman territory and society, led to a monumental shift in the social standards in Rome. This led to a more unequal society and demonstrated the Roman Empire’s ability to respond to the needs of their people, an aspect which allowed the empire to stand successfully for a long span of time for the citizens’ inspiration and motivations to incite rebellion were decreased to a great extent. Without the Punic Wars, Rome would not have experienced the same level of growth as a whole as rapidly as it did, paving the way for a long lasting and successful empire. The Punic Wars contributed to the Roman people’s and government’s understanding of imperialistic tendencies, which they learned could greatly increase their country’s wealth by opening up various new trade routes and enhancing their access to goods, their power by diminishing other competition in the area and by proving their military strength over another international power, and their sphere of influence by introducing Roman principles and styles of life onto the people who they conquered. For these reasons, the Punic Wars marked a pivotal turning point in the history of the Roman Empire, sparking its growth and contributing to Rome’s ability to have success in battles and territorial expansion.
After the Costly victory of the Civil War, the Union need to reunite. The Union needed to readmit the rebellious southern states back into the country. Some Americans wanted to punish the south because of the war. They wanted to brutally reunify the country. Others, seeking a much more kinder approach, wanted to reunify the nation in a much more generous way. Both sides of the debate, wanted African Americans to have their freedom however. The problem for President Abraham Lincoln was difficult to answer, and had a detrimental impact on the United States that would last an eternity. Should the reconstruction plan be based on punishment or reunification? What are the civil liberties given to the newly emancipated African Americans? What should
In his account of the Punic Wars, Polybius declares “it is my contention that by far the most important part of historical writing lies in the consideration of the consequences of events, their accompanying circumstances, and above all their causes.” Polybius recognized the intricate relationship between circumstances, causes, and their consequences, and in his account of the Punic Wars he seeks to explain the reasons for Rome’s victory over Carthage. For centuries, Rome and Carthage lived at peace with one another, their spheres of influence separate enough to avoid conflict. Rome’s wealth and interests lay in farming and acquiring more land throughout Italy, while Carthage’s economy was naval based, and so keeping trade routes open in the western Mediterranean was most important to them. As late as 279 B.C., Rome and Carthage were allied against Pyrrhus of Epirus, and had signed two other treaties in earlier years. However, as the two powers increased in power and controlled progressively larger geographies, their interests were bound to conflict at some point, and that conflict came in the contest for control of Sicily. The result was a twenty-three year war, the beginning of a series of wars which would last over a century. The end of the first war, and the actions of Rome towards Carthage in the latter’s defeat, laid the foundation for the second war, and it was only after the third and final Punic War that Rome, after coming close to defeat in the second, annihilated Carthage and burned it to the ground, effectively ending the age of Carthaginian power. However, the question must be asked, what were the causes of these wars, and more specifically, which power was more responsible for the conflict? No Punic accounts exist...
If the second Punic war is to be discussed, I think it is very important to discuss the first Punic war and its motivations and outcomes, because there is a significant link between the two. Of course, as we know a second of anything is made possible by the first, and in the case of the Punic wars, the first war not only made way for the second, it also gave birth and motivation to one of the greatest and most influential participants of the second Punic war, Hannibal. As we explore the dusk of the first Punic war to the dawn of the second, we can see how Hannibal as a military commander was destined to wreak havoc on the Roman military.
The Roman Republic had an upstanding infrastructure, a stable social system, and a balanced constitution that solidified Rome’s greatness. Regardless of its achievements, however, the Roman Republic owes much of its success to classical Greek cultures. These cultures, in conjunction with the fundamental values of Roman society, certified Rome as one of the most significant powers the world has ever seen.
Many factors contribute to the success of a society and determine the supremacy of the entire empire. The most evident of these factors is the common wealth of the population. This wealth is not merely calculated in monetary form but comprises the amount of resources and military power an empire possesses. The endless necessity in an increase of wealth in Rome could have led to the expansion. Since the land was not rich in resources and the soil was not the greatest for agriculture, expansion of the Roman border...
Since the beginning of time, man has waged war on his neighbors, his friends and his enemies. In many cases these wars were caused by power-hungry nations that were in the process of expanding their empire and ended up stepping on the toes of another superpower or ally of a superpower. In the case of the first Punic War between Rome and Carthage, Carthage was extending its empire and they stepped on Rome’s toes. During the course of this war the winner was unclear but at times victory seemed eminent for both sides until Rome finally won. The Romans had control in the first part of the war but this would not last. After the Romans first win they decided that they needed a victory over the city of Carthage but this would turn the tides in favor of the Carthaginians. For some 15 years after this defeat of Rome the tides went back and forth between the two but would eventually lead to the Romans victory. After the victory, Rome made some very harsh demands and Carthage filled those demands even though some of them were very extreme.
The Roman Empire began as a small colony, in the city of Rome, and eventually, became one of the largest empires that the world has ever known before its ultimate demise. Because of the vast size of their territory, and the number of cultures they consumed throughout their existence, the Romans were heavily influenced by the Greeks and other Hellenistic civilizations. Two different groups of professors argue this point. Professors Matthews, Platt, and Noble argue this influence is reflected by Roman music, philosophy, literature, architecture, art, culture/government, and technology and science; and Professor Weber argues this is reflected in the areas of government/law, the influence and effects of conquests, culture, religion, architecture and art, and philosophy. Both parties make compelling arguments as to why the Romans were heirs to Greek and Hellenistic civilization however, it will be demonstrated that Matthews et al. provide a more thorough argument than Weber.
The Roman Empire was the most powerful Empire during Antiquity. It is traditionally considered to have “fallen” in 476, when Rome’s last emperor was deposed. Many theories have been presented as to why it fell, from unsound economic and social policies to mass lead poisoning. The actual cause of Rome’s fall is the result of many factors, but was mainly caused by Rome’s poor economic policies.
As the story goes, Rome was founding in 753 B.C. by two brothers Remus and Romulus who were raised by wolves. The two brothers started fighting over the leadership of the land. Eventually Romulus killed Remus and took control own his own. The city was only a small settlement at that time. As the civilization grew, the Etruscans took over. The Romans drove out the Etruscans in 509 B.C. By this time Rome had become a city. As the empire came to its peak it included lands throughout the Mediterranean world. Rome had first expanded into other parts of Italy and neighboring places during the Roman Republic, but made wider conquests and made a strong political power for these lands. In 44 BC Gaius Julius Caesar, the Roman leader who ruled the Roman Republic as a dictator was assassinated. Rome descended into more than ten years of civil war. After years of civil war, Caesar's heir Gaius Octavius (also known as Octavian) defeated his last rivals. In 27 B.C. the Senate gave him the name Augustus, meaning the exalted or holy one. In this way Augustus established the monarchy that became known as the Roman Empire. The Roman Republic, which lasted nearly 500 years, did not exist anymore. The emperor Augustus reigned from 27 BC to AD 14 and ruled with great power. He had reestabl...
Rome was a major power because it always made certain its own military prowess was preeminent. There have been many ideas presented as to the fall of the Roman Empire. Many believe that Rome declined morally and the violence and decadence of the societal norms led to the demise. Gibbons has been credited with the theory of the influence and transference of Christianity over the Roman system of Gods and Goddesses that perpetrated the fall. Another theory lays the blame at the feet of the Emperor, that the happiness of the people and the functioning of the government was directly correlated with the personal merit and management skills of the reigning authority. This 10 page paper argues that the imperialistic tendencies of Rome over time and the pre-eminence of military expansionism in the latter stages, was the deciding feature of the "fall". Bibliography lists 7 sources.
The empire that the Roman’s built can be argued to have been the greatest in world history. The Roman Empire controlled the largest land area in European history and influenced a huge region, acting as a cultural center for the entire continent of Europe. Their strength derived from their prowess and skill on the battlefield. The Roman Army was extremely effective and became the basis of our military structure today by utilizing technological advances in strategy and weaponry, and simply having more discipline.
Fisher, Casey. “Explaining the Rise and Dominance of Rome.” worldology.com. Worldology LLC, n.d. Web. 6 Nov. 2013.
“The Romans were a people of genius whose empire dominated the western world for 500 years.”(Pg. 7, Ancient Rome) What made the Romans so powerful was their way of government. It was very similar to the one that we have today, except emperors don’t rule us. The pax romana, or ‘the Roman Peace,’ gave millions of people in Italy and surrounding areas peace. Rome fell when it was invaded by overwhelming tribes and groups of barbarians. Rome was first founded on the legendary date of 735 B.C. The myth of Romulus and Remus was how Rome got its name. The myth was that Mars, god of war, came down to the mortal world and met a human princess. Romulus and Remus were then born shortly after, but abandoned. A She-Wolf nursed them until they were old enough to be on their own. Their dream was to make a beautiful city, and govern it and become powerful. Romulus and Remus had an argument. Which led to a fight to the death. Romulus won, killing his brother Remus. The peoples called his city Rome, after Romulus, who became the founder. Rome’s Symbol is the She-Wolf that nursed Romulus and Remus nursing them. Rome started out as just a group of farmers and Romulus as the emperor. Eventually, the small city-state became larger, and the government stronger, and more sophisticated. In 509 B.C., the Roman Republic was founded. Patricians were the ones who organized the state. Instead of a King, Rome picked 2 magistrates, or consuls, to rule Rome. Eventually, the consuls became too powerful, and the plebeians (peoples of Rome) became angry because they wanted rights equal to those of the consuls in ways. In 494 B.C. the plebs revolted. They elected certain members to be called ‘the Tribunes,’ and be their leaders. The plebs wanted the consuls to notice them. Eventually, after a year of rebelling, the 2 consuls let the plebs have the rights they wanted because in the future, Rome would need some of the plebs to become an army for the protection of Rome and the conquering of new territory. Eventually, The 2 consuls’ decisions became useful. Rome started to wage wars with its neighbors, the Aequi, Volsci, Celts, and Samnites. For 250 years, the Romans were almost at war constantly. The Romans either made alliances with their neighbor’s or they conquered them.
An Empire that is too big is not always for the better because there are more problems to be dealt with. In the case of the Roman E...
The Roman Empire was incredibly large and successful. In the prime of the empire population reached up to 56.8 million people. The land they conquered amasses to an outrageous 1 million square miles. Their influence is so great that even now people can see their imprint in architecture, law, and even helping spread Christianity, the world’s most populous religion. These amazing facts also begs a question.