Roman History is the history of Ancient Rome.

Roman History covers the period of Civilisation known as Ancient Rome or the Roman Empire. It was based on the city of Rome in Italy and on the Latin Language.
The Roman Period began in the 8th century BCE under the Kings of Ancient Rome, which then became the Roman Republic. The Roman Empire expanded to cover most of Western Europe, Asia Minor, the Levant, Egypt and North Africa until 476 CE.

Legend of Ancient Rome.
The Foundation Myth of Rome is based on the twins Romulus and Remus who were brought up in a cave by a she-wolf.
Romulus then became the first King of Rome.

Rome expelled its last King and became a Republic and started building the Roman Empire.

For over 100 years, Rome fought three wars against Carthage before finally acquiring all its territories, and becoming an Empire.
First Punic War (264-246 BCE)
Second Punic War (218-201 BCE)
Third Punic War (148-146 BCE)

Historians divide the Roman Empire into two periods, the Principate (27 BCE-284 CE) or Early Roman Empire and the Dominate (304-476 CE) or Late Roman Empire.
From 27 BCE, Rome is ruled by one man, the Roman Emperor. The first Emperor is Augustus.
Augustus changed the Roman Republic by being granted the Title of ‘Princeps’ meaning ‘First Citizen’ and being granted in perpetuity the Office of ‘Princeps Senatus’ meaning ‘Leader of the Senate’. This was to to avoid being called Dictator with its bad image amongst the Senate which was associated with the Dictatorship of Julius Caesar. Also Augustus wanted to give the impression of continuing with the Roman Republic. The title of ‘Princeps’ was used by successive Emperors up until Diocletian.
In 116 CE The Empire reached its greatest extent under Trajan when he invaded Parthia.

The Period between 27 BCE-180 CE is considered to be Rome’s finest period and spread Roman culture into Europe, Asia Minor, the Levant and North Africa.
Rome consolidated a vast Empire with its armies, built spectacular Monuments and Roads, and produced Literature that is still read today.

Trajan conducted a series of wars including Trajan's Parthian War which resulted in the Roman Empire reaching its greatest extent with its eastern frontier briefly on the Tigris.

His successor, Hadrian, conducted no wars but instead consolidated all the Frontiers.

Marcus Aurelius had to contend with the first of the Germanic Invasions and conducted the Marcomannic Wars (168-180 CE).
At the same time Rome was devastated by the Antonine Plague (165-180 CE).

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire describes the period from 165-476 CE, when a combination of Plague, Germanic Invasions and Civil Wars split the Roman Empire.
The Western Roman Empire disintegrated completely, whilst the Eastern Roman Empire went on to become the Byzantine Empire.

There then followed a 50 year period of civil wars, where one General after another would take his armies to Rome and become Emperor. Historians refer to them as the Soldier Emperors.
The Empire fragmented into smaller Empires and the Germanic Invasions continued during the chaos.

Diocletian changed the Roman Constitution after 284 CE to recognise Monarchy as the supreme source of Power. Dominate is from ‘Dominus’ meaning Master or Lord.
Although the Roman Republic was not officially abolished, it was superseded by the new Constitution.

Diocletian divided the Roman Empire into East and West, with each subdivided to create Four Divisions. Two co-Emperors rule in the East and two co-Emperors rule in the West.
Four new Capitals were created: Mediolanum Milan, Augusta Treverorum Trier, Sirmium Sremska Mitrovica, Nicomedia Izmit

Diocletian reorganised the army into smaller but more mobile Units.
Three of the new Capitals are on or near the Frontiers to permit faster communications: Trier with centralised command of the Limes Germanicus, the Rhine Frontier System. Sirmium Sremska Mitrovica with centralised command of the Danube Limes, the Danube Frontier System.
And Nicomedia Izmit with centralised command of the eastern Armies in Syria and Cappadocia opposing the Persian Empire.

Constantine I is considered to be the first Christian Roman Emperor.
He permitted the free worship of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire by enacting the Edict of Milan in 313 CE.
Constantine reunited the four parts of the Tetrarchy between 324-364 CE.
But also permanently transferred the Capital from Rome to Constantinople (Byzantium) between 326-330 CE, in effect reinforcing the split between East and West.
The Western Capital becomes permanently based at Milan (Mediolanum) and later moved to Ravenna.

In 380 CE, Theodosius passed the Edict of Thessalonica establishing Christianity as the State Religion and banning the old Roman Pagan Religion and its festivals including the Olympics.
In 392 CE, Theodosius reunited East and West for the last time. He was the last Roman Emperor of both parts, and after his death in 395 CE, the Empire was permanently split.

After the death of Theodosius in 395 CE the Roman Empire became officially split into East and West with separate Emperors. Theodosius’ two sons each inherited half of the Empire.
- The Western Roman Empire
- The Eastern Roman Empire

The last Roman Emperor of the West is Romulus Augustus and when he is deposed, the Western Roman Empire officially ends with him in 476 CE.

- After the Western Roman Empire ended in 476 CE, the Eastern Roman Empire succeeded it to become the Byzantine Empire with its Capital at Constantinople.

Rome