Antoninus Pius (138-161 A.D.)

Marcus Agrippa Birth: 63 BC?Death: March 12 BC, Campania, Italy Overview Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa was a pivotal figure in the rise of the Roman Empire, serving as a powerful deputy to Augustus, Rome's first emperor. Known for his military prowess and administrative skill, Agrippa's efforts were inst...
Read More

Gaius Marius Marius, Gaius (circa 157-86BC), Roman general and statesman, who led the Populares during the civil war of 88-86BC. Caius Marius (died 86 B.C.E.) By PlutarchWritten 75 A.C.E.Translated by John Dryden We are altogether ignorant of any third name of Caius Marius; as also of Quintus Sertor ...
Read More

Marcus Aurelius (AD 121-180) A great task faced Marcus Aurelius when he became the Roman emperor in AD 161, as successor to his uncle, Emperor Antonius Pius. Generations of luxury had made the patricians, or nobles, weak and selfish. The middle class was disappearing, and the working class was being...
Read More

Ancient Rome was a powerful civilization that existed from 753 BCE to 476 CE. It was located in the central part of the Italian peninsula and was known for its military prowess, political and legal systems, and architectural and engineering achievements. Ancient Rome is considered to be one of the m...
Read More

The year 12 CE might not be the flashiest moment in Roman history, but it offers a fascinating snapshot of a powerful empire in its prime. We're not quite at the reign of Trajan, the period of maximum extent, but let's delve into what the Roman world looked like in this specific year.Augustus: Stil...
Read More

...
Read More

...
Read More

The Roman civilization was one of the most influential in world history, and its impact can still be felt today in areas such as politics, architecture, language, and law. The Roman Republic, which was established in 509 BCE, was the first known republic in the world, and it laid the foundation for ...
Read More

Rome, as the capital of the Roman empire, was the most important city. The city grew and so it became occupied by important buildings. These buildings are all built close to each other making a center for entertainment and other causes like political leaders going to the Forum. These buildings are t...
Read More

The Coliseum - a comparison of pictures taken during the 1960s and in August 1996... A Timeless Icon: The Colosseum Then and Now The Colosseum, a symbol of ancient Rome's power and grandeur, continues to captivate visitors centuries after its construction. Comparing photographs from different eras o...
Read More

The Forum The forum was made with two Insulae put together. There are a few temples in the Forum. They are the temples of Jupiter, Juno and Minerva. The other side of the forum was a place to meet for people. They could be found in every town. In Italy the milestones indicated the distance of the cl...
Read More

Pompeii was a city built more than 2000 years ago which got covered in ash from when the Vesuvius erupted. The people died intoxicated by fumes coming from the eruption. "To us at distance it was not clear which mountain was belching out the cloud, but it was later discovered to be Vesuvius. In form...
Read More

Note: Though this map states that the Roman Empire was at its greatest extent in the third century A.D., Mesopotamia, shown here as part of the empire, was only briefly part of the Roman world during the last years of the reign of Trajan (emperor A.D. 98-117) and was abandoned immediately after his ...
Read More

Lucius Aurelius Commodus on 31 August AD 161 at Lanuvium, roughly 14 miles south-east of Rome.Of the fourteen children of Marcus Aurelius and Faustina the Younger, Commodus was the tenth. He was born one of twins, though his twin brother died when he was only four years old. He was given the Commodu...
Read More

Lucius Domitius Aurelianus was born of poor parents on 9 September AD 214 in Lower Moesia.His father was a tenant farmer of a wealthy senator Aurelius, after whom the family were named. Aurelian rose through the ranks of the army, serving with distinction on the Danube frontier.By AD 268, when Aureo...
Read More

As in any large society with growing sophistication and complexity there arises the need for ever more governmental offices to oversee and regulate aspects of life.In the Roman Republic the following offices were created in order to deal with the expanding demands on government. Consul (Head of Sta...
Read More

The SenateComitia CuriataComitia CenturiataComitia TributaConcilium PlebisThe Senate had roughly 300 members. In the very early days of Roman history entry to the senate was by birth or rank. Later it was the consuls who nominated new members to the senate. Plebeians gained entry in the course of th...
Read More

ConsulDictatorPontifex MaximusCensorPraetorAedileQuaestorThe Roman republic was led by two Consuls who were joint heads of the Roman state and commanders-in-chief of the army. They were elected only for one year and thereafter could not be re-elected again for 10 years, in order to prevent any form ...
Read More