Ancient Rome: 5 Things You Should Know

Question: Rome began as a kingdom, but in 509 BC Romans threw out their last king. Why did they create a republic instead of a new king?

Answer: The Romans built a republic with elected leaders and a Senate so no one person could become a tyrant. Many modern governments, including the United States, borrowed this idea.

Question: Julius Caesar was Rome’s most famous general, yet Roman senators stabbed him to death in 44 BC. Why did they kill him?

Answer: Caesar was named dictator for life, and senators feared he would end the Republic. Ironically, his death led to his heir Augustus becoming Rome’s first emperor.

Question: The saying ‘All roads lead to Rome’ comes from a real network of 50,000 miles of stone roads. Why did Rome build so many?

Answer: Roman roads let legions march fast to trouble spots and let trade and messages flow across the empire. Some of these roads are still used today.

Question: Rome’s emperors paid for free gladiator fights at the Colosseum, which held about 50,000 people. Why give shows away?

Answer: Free games and free grain, known as “bread and circuses,” helped emperors win public loyalty. Entertainment was a powerful political tool in Rome.

Question: The Western Roman Empire fell in 476 AD, after lasting for centuries. What finally brought the once-mighty empire down?

Answer: Rome didn’t fall in a day; its problems built up for centuries until the Germanic leader Odoacer removed the last western emperor. The eastern half, the Byzantine Empire, survived for another thousand years.