How long did the Roman civilization last? See a Roman civilization timeline, Ancient Rome civilization facts, and information about Roman civilization religion.
Updated: 11/21/2023
Roman Civilization | Overview, Timeline & Religion
Table of Contents
- Roman Civilization: Overview
- Roman Civilization Timeline
- Ancient Roman Civilization Facts
- Legacy of Roman Civilization
- Lesson Summary
Additional Activities
Prompts About Roman Civilization:
Timeline Prompt:
Make a timeline that lists and briefly describes the major events in Roman history, beginning in 753 BCE and ending in 476 CE.
Example: The period of the Roman Republic began in 509 BCE and lasted until 49 CE.
Essay Prompt 1:
In one paragraph, write an essay that describes why it is important to understand Roman history.
Example: At its height, the Roman Empire contained nearly one-fourth of the world's population, so understanding the history of Rome is essential to understanding world history as a whole.
Essay Prompt 2:
Write an essay of approximately three to four paragraphs that explains the contributions and impacts of notable figures in Roman history. Refer to the chart provided in the lesson.
Example: According to legend, Rome was founded by Romulus and Remus, two brothers.
Essay Prompt 3:
In at least one page, write an essay that describes the Roman contributions to civilization regarding language, writing, the legal system, the calendar, holidays, and food.
Example: Holidays like Christmas and Easter can trace their origins to Roman celebrations.
Graphic Organizer Prompt:
Create a poster, chart, or some other type of graphic organizer that depicts the architectural and infrastructural contributions of the Romans.
Example: Aqueducts served as the world's first municipal water system.
Table of Contents
- Roman Civilization: Overview
- Roman Civilization Timeline
- Ancient Roman Civilization Facts
- Legacy of Roman Civilization
- Lesson Summary
The impact of Roman civilization on the world is so vast that it is nearly impossible to be overstated. Today, Rome is the capital city of Italy and is located in the country's central region on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea. While this city was part of the larger civilization, republic, and later empire, Rome's power stretched far beyond this. At its apex during the rule of Emperor Trajan around the beginning of the 1st century CE, the Roman Empire expanded from modern-day Spain to the west and Mesopotamia to the east and from as far north as Britain and south to Egypt, covering most of the regions surrounding the Mediterranean Sea.
Roman civilization is a term used to refer to all the stages of this civilization, from its origins as a city and monarchy through its time as a republic and on to its power (and later decline) as an empire. The Roman civilization did not rise out of nothing, however. Its culture and religion was most notably influenced by the Greeks, or Hellenistic Empire. However, other groups like the Etruscans to the north impacted Roman clothing, architecture, and sport. The Latins to the south influenced Roman language as they supplied the Latin language Rome used. The Sabines to the east of Rome were one of the biggest influences on Roman fighting style. Rome, therefore, became a civilization produced from the centuries of development of other ancient civilizations in the region.
How Long Did the Roman Civilization Last?
As a distinct civilization, the Roman civilization lasted from its founding around 753 BCE until its fall in 476 CE. From the time of its foundation until approximately 510 BCE, Rome functioned as a monarchy with a series of kings; from 510 BCE until Augustus Caesar's rule in 27 BCE, Rome functioned as a republic. When Augustus was declared emperor of Rome up through Rome's fall in 476 CE, Rome was the empire it is most commonly remembered as today.
To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account
You must cCreate an account to continue watching
Register to view this lesson
Are you a student or a teacher?
Create Your Account To Continue Watching
As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 88,000 lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you succeed.
Get unlimited access to over 88,000 lessons.
Try it now
It only takes a few minutes to setup and you can cancel any time.
Already registered? Log in here for access
BackResources created by teachers for teachers
Over 30,000 video lessons
& teaching resources‐all
in one place.
I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. It’s like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. I feel like it’s a lifeline.
Jennifer B.
Teacher
Back
Your next lesson will play in
10 seconds
Roman civilization spans nearly 1,000 years of history. Scholars frequently divide the Roman civilization timeline into three periods, which are separated below with an additional focus on the fall of Rome and its impacts.
The Rise of Rome
Rome began as a monarchy, which it functioned as between the years 753 BCE to 510 BCE.
- 8th c. BCE: According to legend, Rome is founded in 753 BCE by the brothers Romulus and Remus. Romulus kills his brother and declares himself king, naming the city after himself and beginning the Roman monarchy.
- 7th c. BCE: Rome is ruled by a series of kings who influence the religious practices, warfare, and expanse of the kingdom.
- 6th c. BCE: Rome has a series of three kings who are Etruscan. The final king of Rome, Tarquinius Superbus, usurped the kingship, leading the Romans to search for a new form of government.
The Roman Republic
The Roman republic lasted for nearly half a century, from 510 BCE until 27 BCE.
- 6th c. BCE: The last decade of the 6th century marks the Roman civilization's transition to a republic, a form of government where many citizens have the power to elect representatives to govern them. The Roman republic had three branches: executive (consisting of consuls who ruled), judicial (consisting of judges), and legislative (consisting of many aristocratic citizens who made laws).
- 5th c. BCE: The patricians (the wealthy) are primarily in control of the government, so the plebeians (the lower class) struggle for better representation of their needs. In 451 BCE, the plebeians convince the senate to write down the laws of Rome and have them available in the marketplace for all to see rather than just the patricians.
- 4th c. BCE: The Romans face warfare and conquest during this time, and in 386 BCE, the city of Rome is attacked and mostly destroyed by the Gauls, or Celts, from what is now France. The Romans are also attacked after this by the neighboring Latins, whom Rome defeats. Through this, Rome begins expanding its rule, leaving defeated nations to govern themselves so long as they are allies to Rome.
- 3rd c. BCE: Between the years 280-272 BCE, Rome fights the Pyrrhic War with the Hellenistic Empire ruled by Pyrrhus. Despite the Greeks' victories, the Romans are eventually victorious and expand their territory even further. In continuing their expansion, the Romans fight the Punic Wars, a series of three wars with Carthage, for over one hundred years (from 264-146 BCE); they win every war and take over Sicily and areas in Northern Africa.
- 2nd c. BCE: The Punic Wars continue during this time, but afterward, there is civil war within Rome between the patricians and plebeians because, while many plebeians fought in the wars, the patricians took over their land, farms, and goods.
- 1st c. BCE: Important military and political leaders gain power during this time.
- 60 BCE: The First Triumvirate, or group of three people with governing power, is formed, The The First Triumvirate consists of Pompey, Crassus, and Julius Caesar. Pompey is focused on ruling through the established senate, while Caesar seeks more absolute power.
- 48 BCE: Caesar battles Pompey and wins, leaving Pompey to flee to Egypt (where he is eventually killed).
- 44 BCE: In February, Caesar appoints himself dictator of Rome, making him the first absolute ruler of Rome. A month later, on the infamous ''Ides of March'' (March 15), Caesar is assassinated in the senate.
- 43 BCE: The Second Triumvirate is formed, consisting Antony (Julius Caesar's friend), Marcus Lepidus, and Octavian (Julius Caesar's great-nephew and adopted son), in hopes of defeating Caesar's assassins, which was successful.
- 40 BCE: The triumvirate collapsed, with Antony and Octavian fighting each other for control of Rome.
- 30 BCE: Octavian pursues Antony, and Antony kills himself.
The Roman Empire
The Roman Empire lasted from 27 BCE until 476 CE and was one of the major world powers during its time.
- 1st c. BCE: After Antony's death and Octavian's return to Rome, he is declared the first Roman emperor in 27 BCE and is called Augustus, or ''revered.'' Rome thrives under Augustus'/Octavian's rule, and the period is called the Pax Romana, or ''peace of Rome,'' because of the lack of civil wars and general upset in the empire.
- 1st c. CE: Augustus dies in 14 CE, and over the next 500 years, the Roman Empire has over 70 emperors.
- 43 CE: Emperor Claudius invades Britain.
- 64 CE: The Great Fire of Rome occurs during Emperor Nero's rule. Nero enacts the first major persecution of Christians (a religion that began about 30 years prior), blaming them for the fire.
- 2nd c. CE: Emperor Trajan rules from 98-117 CE. During his reign, Rome reaches the apex of its power and has most of the land around the Mediterranean Sea under its control.
- 3rd c. CE: The empire faces internal turmoil, and most emperors during this period are assassinated, leading to instability in the empire. In 285 CE, Emperor Diocletian recognizes the empire is too large to rule, so he divides it into the Western Roman Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire.
- 4th c. CE: Despite the split, Emperor Constantine, often called ''Constantine the Great,'' rules all of Rome. In 312 CE, Constantine claims he sees a sign from God in the sky as he heads into a battle, where he is victorious. He legalizes the growing religion of Christianity. In 380 CE, under the rule of Emperor Theodosius I, Christianity becomes the official Roman religion.
 |
The Fall of Rome and the End of Civilization
Despite its power, the Roman Empire weakened, perhaps because of the vast extent of the empire and issues with rulership.
- 5th c. CE: In 410 CE, the city of Rome is sacked by the Visigoths, a Germanic group, weakening the Western Roman Empire, which eventually falls during the reign of Romulus Augustus in 476 CE.
- 6th c. CE: The ''Fall of Rome'' typically refers to the Western Roman Empire with the major city of Rome in Italy, but the Eastern Roman Empire continued on as Byzantium for many centuries, with Justinian I being the last ''Roman' emperor.
The period after the Fall of Rome until approximately 1000 CE is frequently called the ''Dark Ages'' because of the lack of centralized authority in Europe and the necessity of rural rather than city life. However, the growing power of the Roman Catholic Church eventually became the centralized authority of Europe, crowning Charlemagne the Holy Roman Emperor.
To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account
The ancient Roman civilization, from monarchy through empire, is significant for many reasons.
- Romans created concrete, which they used in their architecture.
- Romans created the first types of plumbing.
- Romans created complex road systems.
- Romans created the early form of modern calendars.
Roman Civilization Material Culture
Roman civilization clothing was primarily made from wool. Togas, a long piece of cloth draped and wrapped around the body, were a common style of clothing officially. However, on an everyday basis, most people wore tunics, long shirt-like garments that were tied around the waist with a belt. The color and decorations on clothing varied depending on class and social status. While many went barefoot, sandals were also used for footwear. Adult males wore signet rings that had individualized seals for sealing wax on letters and documents. Patrician women wore many types of jewelry, usually made of gold or silver, including bracelets, rings, and pins.
Roman Civilization Religion
For centuries, Roman religion was largely focused on the pantheon, or many different deities, that they borrowed from the Greeks and Latinized. Most Roman religion up until the 1st century CE was characterized by being:
- polytheistic (having many deities)
- animistic (believing everything has a spirit)
- cultural (religious traditions were essential for cultural whether believed literally or not)
- regional (deities were worshiped across Rome, but each city had a specific patron deity).
With the advent of Christianity, founded by Jesus the Nazarene's followers after it split from Judaism, in the Roman province of Judea in the mid-1st century CE, Roman religious practices changed. Though not yet legal, Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire because many of the Christian apostles were Roman citizens, like Paul of Tarsus. After Theodosius I made it the official religion of the empire, Roman religion was:
- Christian-centric (previous Roman traditions were now derogatorily labeled as ''pagan'' and followers were persecuted)
- Religiously motivated (rather than religion being cultural, it was now the law of the land)
- Enforced (religion was no longer a choice but a strict requirement).
Roman Architecture and Engineering
One of the best remembered parts of Roman history because of how long it has persevered is its architecture. Rome developed significant structures for practical purposes:
- Aqueducts were structures that provided a municipal water supply to Rome's inhabitants
- Arches were created as large memorials to emperors, but simpler arches were used to provide support structures for buildings
- Bridges allowed messengers, soldiers, and others to easily cross bodies of water
- Roads were laid out to help with Rome's trade, communication, and expansion.
Beyond these, there were also culturally significant structures throughout Rome:
- Basilicas were buildings with halls and semicircular rooms that housed administrative meetings.
- The Colosseum was a famous amphitheater used for sporting events, like chariot racing and gladiator matches in Rome.
- The Pantheon, dedicated to all deities, was built in Rome as a cultural, religious, and political building.
 |
To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account
In so-called Western society, Roman civilization has left a tremendous legacy. The infrastructure of connected roadways has led to most countries having streets, highways, and interstates that connect for ease of travel. The aqueducts were the forerunners to plumbing that exists throughout much of the world to supply fresh water even indoors. Aspects of Roman government have influenced other countries as well. The United States' republic is a clear reflection of Rome's centuries-long republic, with the divisions of responsibilities in executive, judicial, and legislative branches.
Culturally, Roman civilization has had a long-lasting impact, which can be readily found in literature and film. Latin, the language of the Roman Empire, might not be spoken in pure form anymore, but it makes up a crucial part of the grammar and vocabulary of many languages today, including English, Spanish, and Italian. Even the calendar is reliant on Roman culture, as months like July and August are named for Roman emperors (Julius and Augustus).
To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account
The Roman civilization lasted about 1,000 years, from 753 BCE to 476 CE, with its impacts still apparent today.
- The Roman civilization began as a monarchy influenced by the Hellenistic Empire.
- Latin was the primary language of the civilization.
- The Roman civilization timeline begins around 753 BCE, when Rome was supposedly founded and ruled by Romulus, after he killed his brother and co-founder.
- Tarquinius Superbus was the last king of the Roman monarchy before Rome transitioned to a republic and ruled the people through representatives.
- The Punic Wars were one of Rome's first major campaigns, during which they defeated the Carthaginians and expanded their territory.
- Julius Caesar, after ruling Rome as part of a triumvirate, declared himself dictator and became the first absolute ruler of Rome, for which he was soon assassinated.
- Octavian, the adopted son of Julius Caesar, eventually took over and began the Roman Empire. Octavian was called Augustus because he was ''revered'' and began Pax Romana.
- After a few centuries, Constantine became emperor and declared Christianity a legal religion, which was later made the official religion.
- Rome fell in 476 BCE, but its legacy lives on through its significant contributions, particularly in architecture, like the aqueducts that supplied water to Rome's inhabitants and the Colosseum where sporting events were held.
To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account
Video Transcript
Background of Roman Civilization
The history of Rome is an extraordinary story that spans thousands of years. It's a story that describes a small village that grows in size, strength, and importance to become the largest empire the world had ever seen up to that point. At its peak, Rome embraced between one-sixth and one-fourth of the whole world's population, and it stretched from Britain to the deserts of the Middle East.
Understanding the history of Rome is important to understanding global history for the last 2,000 years. This lesson offers a general timeline of the rise and fall of Rome, important facts about the empire, its conquests, its culture, an overview of the contributions made by Rome to world history, and the legacy of the empire that can still be seen today.
A Timeline of Roman History
Famously, Rome began in 753 BCE. 1,229 years later, the last Roman emperor in the Italian peninsula was deposed and the empire came to an end (at least the western half of it, as the eastern half persisted in various forms until 1453). During that time, Rome underwent many changes in its government and way of life. This timeline lists important dates and try to summarize why each event was significant. We'll look at the date, the event in question, and the story behind it.
| Date | Event | The Story |
|---|---|---|
| 753 BCE | The founding of Rome | Legend has it that on the 21st of April, brothers Romulus and Remus founded Rome. Romulus eventually kills Remus to become the first king and names the city after himself. |
| 509 BCE | The Republic begins | After the last of seven kings, Rome begins the Republic period during which it is ruled by senators and has a constitution. |
| 218 BCE | Hannibal invades | Hannibal of Carthage attacks Rome and invades Italy during the Second Punic War. |
| 73 BCE | Spartacus slave uprising | Spartacus, a gladiator, leads an army of slaves in a series of battles. Spartacus and his men were caught and crucified. |
| 45 BCE | Julius Caesar becomes a dictator | After Julius Caesar wins the civil war, he establishes himself as a dictator for life and supreme ruler of Rome, thus ending the Roman Republic. |
| 44 BCE | The death of Julius Caesar | On March 15th, known today as the Ides of March, Caesar is assassinated on the steps of the Senate by factions wishing to bring back the Republic. |
| 27 BCE | The Roman Empire begins | Even though Caesar was a dictator, the first leader to call himself ''Emperor'' or Augustus was Octavius. |
| 64 CE | The Great Fire of Rome | Most of the city is destroyed in a vast fire. Emperor Nero has often been blamed, but modern scholarship doubts this. |
| 80 CE | Building of the Colosseum | One of the most iconic ancient buildings in Rome, the completion of the structure was a massive celebration. |
| 122 CE | Hadrian's Wall | A wall was built across the North of England and marked the northern boundary of the Roman Empire. |
| 306 CE | Constantine becomes emperor | This marks a change in the way that Christians were treated in Rome. Constantine himself became a Christian. |
| 380 CE | Christianity becomes the official religion | This will have an effect on the rest of European history to the present day. |
| 395 CE | Rome splits | In an effort to make administration of the vast empire easier, Rome becomes two separate empires (Western Roman Empire and Eastern Roman Empire) with two capitals and two rulers. |
| 410 CE | The attack of the Visigoths | This marks the beginning of the fatal weakening of Rome that would lead to its downfall. |
| 476 CE | The end of the Western Roman Empire | The last Roman Emperor Romulus Augustus is deposed and the Middle Ages begin. |
The Contributions of Rome
In historical scholarship, the Romans are often viewed as a people who were excellent at taking an idea and making it better. As an example, while they didn't invent the stone arch, the Romans turned it into a truly functional architectural component. With that said, the Romans contributed much to Europe and beyond, and the legacy of their inventiveness persists to this day. Here are a few Roman innovations that are familiar to us thousands of years later. We'll look at the contribution and then explain its significance.
| Contribution | Significance |
|---|---|
| Architecture | In the field of architecture, the Romans were exceptionally adept at seeing value in other cultures and using it. The arch, columns, and domes are all part of Roman architecture. |
| Concrete and cement | When it came to building, the Romans also contributed the invention of concrete, the recipe for which is the same as we use today. |
| Roads | Roman roads were more than primitive paths. They were paved and laid out by surveyors so that they were straight over great distances. Many modern roads in Italy follow the same paths. |
| Sports in stadiums | The Romans are still known for their gladiatorial battles and chariot races. These took place in purpose-made structures that are the model for modern stadiums. |
| The aqueduct | The structures known as aqueducts were the first to provide a municipal water supply. They brought water from the mountains down into Rome itself. |
| The Roman alphabet | Barely changed in all of these centuries, the alphabet we use today is the ''Latin'' alphabet which originated with the Romans. |
| Language | Latin, which is the language of the Romans, is still a part of all European languages and is a major component of English. |
| The legal system | Roman law, specifically the ''Code of Justinian,'' is the basis for much of Western legal tradition. |
| The calendar | The Julian Calendar, instituted under Julius Caesar, is still with us today and gives us the names of the months and some of the days of the week. |
| Holidays | Many of the Christian religious holidays celebrated today have their origins in Roman festivals, including Christmas and Easter. |
| Dessert | To end this list, we can thank the Romans for dessert. Specifically, it was the Romans who first broke the meal into three parts. They also traditionally ate three meals a day. |
Lesson Summary
Let's take a few moments to review. In this lesson, we have seen that Rome was a vast empire that had very humble beginnings, with its fabled founders Romulus and Remus. Spreading out from the Italian Peninsula, the empire covered more land area and held more people than any empire that had come before.
Over the course of more than a thousand years, Rome underwent many changes, including the Republic period, during which it's ruled by senators and has a constitution; the uprising of the gladiator, Sparticus; and Julius Caesar, the first dictator for life and supreme rule of Rome. Some of these changes involve violence, like the Ides of March, in which Caesar was assassinated on the steps of the Senate.
The empire became vast, broke into two different empires, and finally fell to invading barbarians. But during that time, they provided many contributions to Western culture that are still part of our lives today. From language to architecture to aqueducts (which were the first to provide a municipal water supply) to the way that laws work, the Roman contributions are still with us.
To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account
Register to view this lesson
Are you a student or a teacher?
Unlock Your Education
See for yourself why 30 million people use Study.com
Become a Study.com member and start learning now.
Become a MemberAlready a member? Log In
BackResources created by teachers for teachers
Over 30,000 video lessons
& teaching resources‐all
in one place.
I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. It’s like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. I feel like it’s a lifeline.
Jennifer B.
Teacher
Back
Roman Civilization | Overview, Timeline & Religion
Related Study Materials
Explore our library of over 88,000 lessons
Browse by subject