The Origin of Rome-

According to legend, Rome was founded by Romulus and Remus, twin sons of the god Mars and a Latin Princess. They were abandoned at the Tiber river and raised by a She-Wolf. The twins thought of building a city near the spot. They chose the spot for its strategic location and fertile soil.

The First Romans-

The earliest settlers arrived in prehistoric times, around 1000 and 500 B.C., 3 groups moved there. The Latins, The Greeks, and The Etruscans. The Latins built the original settlement in Rome, and one of the seven hills, Palentine Hill. They were considered to be the first Romans.

Economic Turmoil-

As Rome grew, the gap between the Rich and the Poor grew.

Rome had many Rich landowners, whom lived on huge estates. Thousands of enslaved people, many of them captured in various wars, were forced to work on these estates. By 100 B.C. enslaved people made up 1/3 of Rome's total population.

Julius Caesar Takes Control-

In 60 B.C., a military leader named Julius Caesar joined forces with Crassus, a wealthy Roman, and Pompey, a popular general. With there help, Caesar was elected consul in 59 B.C. For the next 10 years, these men ruled as a triumvirate. Caesar was a genius in military strategies.

Jesus of Nazareth-

Around 6-4 B.C., a Jew named Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea. Jesus was raised in the village of Nazareth in northern Palestine. He was baptized by a prophet named John The Baptist. At the age of 30, Jesus began his public ministry. For the next 3 years, he taught, preached, did good works, and reportedly preformed miracles.

Jesus' Death-

Jesus' growing popularity concerned Rome and Jewish leaders. In A.D. 29 , people greeted Jesus with great enthusiasm. They called him Messiah. The one in the Bible had said who would rescue the Jews. The Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, sentenced Jesus to be crucified, or be nailed on a large wooden cross to die.

Rome's Economy Weakens-

During the third century A.D., several factors weakened Rome's economy. Hostile tribes outside the boundaries of the empire disrupted trade, Having reached their limit of expansion, the Romans lacked new sources of gold and silver, Desperate for revenue, the government raised taxes.

An Empire No More-

The last Roman emperor, a 14 year-old named Romulus Augustulus, was ousted out by German forces in 476. After that there was no more Roman emperors. But, the eastern half of the empire still stood. It was called the Byzantine Empire. It preserved the great heritage of the Greek and Roman cultures another 1,000 years.