Early Rome and the Republic
Rome began as a mix of different peoples and cultures. Located on the Italian peninsula with fertile soil perfect for growing grapes and olives, Rome had a strategic position in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. The city grew from the legendary tale of Romulus and Remus, twin brothers who competed to build a city, with Romulus eventually killing his brother and founding Rome.
Unlike the exclusive Greeks, Romans were known for being inclusive and integrating conquered peoples. Their language, Latin, forms the basis of about 50% of our English words today. As Rome expanded, they developed an incredibly organized military system with legions of 5,000 soldiers divided into smaller units. Roman soldiers used swords instead of spears, along with curved shields designed to deflect enemy weapons.
The Romans valued service to society over self-interest, symbolized by their motto SPQR (Senate and People of Rome). A perfect example was Cincinnatus, a Roman hero who was given emergency powers as dictator during a crisis. After saving Rome, he immediately gave up his power and returned to farming—showing the Roman ideal that no one should hold too much power for too long.
Did you know? Roman soldiers received retirement benefits including land at the borders of Rome—this clever system ensured that retired veterans would defend the frontier if enemies attacked!
