General

Enemies of the Roman Empire

Rome, the ancient superpower that once ruled over vast territories, faced numerous enemies throughout its existence. These adversaries played a crucial role in shaping the history of the Roman Empire. Here are some of the most notable enemies that Rome encountered: Carthage: One of Rome's most famous foes was Carthage, a powerful city-state locate...

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The Later Roman Empire: Diocletian Reforms the Money System

In the later Roman Empire, one of the significant reforms implemented by Emperor Diocletian was the restructuring of the money system. Diocletian faced a challenging economic situation with rampant inflation and debased currency. To address these issues, he introduced a new system of coinage and price controls. Diocletian issued an edict in 301 AD...

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Roman Emperors - The Imperial Index

the emperors are listed in a chronological table in order of their dates of rule. The name of each emperor for whom a biographical essay is complete offers a live link to the essay....

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How Excessive Government Killed Ancient Rome

Throughout history, the rise and fall of empires have often been attributed to various factors. One such civilization that met its demise was Ancient Rome, a powerful empire that at its peak controlled vast territories and influenced many aspects of Western civilization. While there were multiple reasons for the fall of Rome, one significant factor...

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Stars and Senate: The History of Astrology in Ancient Rome

“It is written in the stars…” — but did the Romans believe it? Astrology in Ancient Rome wasn’t just about horoscopes — it was a blend of science, religion, politics, and personal fate, woven into the empire’s very fabric. While often controversial, astrology played a surprisingly powerful role in Roman life. Origins: Imported from the East Astrolo...

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Antiqua medicina: Etruscan and Roman Medicine

Pliny, in his Natural History, says that the first doctor (medicus) to come to Rome was Arcagathus. He arrived from the Greek Peloponnese in 219 BCE and was well received. Arcagathus was accorded the rights of citizenship and a medical shop was set up at state expense for his use. Prior to this time, Rome had no physicians and only home remedies we...

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Ancient Roman Education

In the early Roman society, before the 6th century BC, children were taught by their parents. The mothers taught their daughters to do housework and anything else the mothers thought might be useful for their daughters to know. The mothers also taught their sons before the age of seven. After the age of seven, boys moved under the control of thei...

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Roman Society and Social Institutions

Roman society was highly structured and organized, with clear social institutions that governed various aspects of life. At the top of Roman society were the aristocratic families, known as the patricians. They held most of the wealth and political power in society. Below them were the plebeians, who were commoners and made up the majority of the ...

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The Roman Virtues

The Roman Virtues were the qualities, characteristics, and values that were considered essential to the Roman way of life. These virtues were instilled in Roman citizens from a young age and played a significant role in shaping the Roman society and culture. One of the most prominent Roman virtues was gravitas, which encompassed characteristics su...

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Succession of the Roman Empire

Succession of the Roman Empire The Roman Empire, known for its vast territorial expanse and significant historical influence, experienced several transitions in leadership known as successions throughout its existence. These successions were crucial periods that often determined the fate and direction of the empire. One of the most famous success...

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