The city founded by Romulus in the 8th century BC is located on a permanently navigable river,the Tiber, not too far from the sea. The site where Rome is, is well supplied with springs and healthy because of the hills. Rome was surrounded not only by city walls but also by a pomerium, created when a furrow was solemnly ploughed round the site of a city. Ancient Rome was divided in four regions within the Pomerium, Suburana, Esquilina, Collina and Palatina, the original basis of the four urban tribes. The power to command the roman state during the republican period was called in latin Imperium and the chief magistrates of the roman republic were the two consuls. The consuls were the eponymous magistrates at Rome, that is, the Roman year was named after the consuls holding office during that year.
The literary tradition describes the establishment of the two consuls as one of the major acts in the immediate expulsion of the last kings. Consuls had the power to summon the roman people to assemblies, to preside over the elections and to convene the senate. In the first two and half centuries of its existence, the roman republic conquered first latium, then all of Italy. The romans annexed much foreign territory to their own state, but they also established a system of alliances with all other states.
The concept of the italian nation is a creation of the romans. All of modern Italy is inhabited by people speaking various languages coming from the latin.Roman society was clearly divided into social classes. At the top were aristocratic Romans, called patricians.
They had many privileges and lived lives of luxury. They ran the government but they had many obligations too, like each day had to meet with their clients, people of lower status who depended on them for favors and who they could ask favors in return. Aristocrats could be required to serve in the military or in a governmental position at any moment.
Roman rich men, to stay popular with the people had to spend a lot of money putting on festivals and games.Most romans lived in tiny apartments in huge buildings called insulae ( islands ) that were three to six stories tall. Insulae were not as confortable as apartments today.
Some insulae were poorly made and threat of fire was constant. But many people were willing to pay the price just to be able to live in Rome. Most of the work of running the roman empire fell to slaves: some wealthy romans would have hundreds, or even thousands of slaves, each to serve a certain specific purpose.
Romans could at times be kind to their slaves. many were affectionate with their slaves, and they often frred them. Freed slaves could become roman citizens.
Still freed slaves owed their former masters loyalty and often became their ex masters clients. During the imperial period the streets were crowded and noisy during the day and at night because to make life even more expensive, it was difficult to cook in the tiny apartments, so people often ate out at taverns.
Discovering the history of ancient Rome allows us to understand how we live today and why we have some institutions. To know more about the history of Rome visit http://www.gladiatour.com
