Day 8 - The Empire

The trip to Rome awoke on me an interest in learning more about the greatest Empire the world has ever seen. I did a bit of research and bought an excellent book. The book is called "Ancient Rome - The rise and fall of an empire" written by a Simon Baker.

It really makes compelling reading, mixing the known historical facts with well informed hypothesis to cover the gaps.

We all know quite a lot about the Roman civilization, probably more than we think we do without giving it a deep thought:

We all know something or other about Julius Cesar and the fact he was murdered by his adopted son Brutus. But do you recall this happening because he became a dictator after gaining power having, as a successful general, marched into Rome, something no general had ever dared do until then?

We have all heard the myth of Romulus and Remo and how they were raised by a wolf. We know about Nero, the crazy emperor; about the gladiators and the games, and so on…

Reading this book, however, you will learn how Rome started by the merging of the tribes occupying it's famous 7 hills. How it was initially ruled by 3 kings until the creation of the Republic and the Imperium, to be governed by 2 elected consuls. You will be enlightened about the early conflicts between the Patricians and the plebs and the conquering of Italy and adjacent territories. You will read about the 3 Punic wars fought against the Carthaginians for different reasons and at different points in history.

You will also discover an Empire that was created based on treaties and wars in the name of freedom (and initially self defence). All based on an ingrained principle of "fides", the ability to keep one's word. But you will also learn about how the Senate became corrupt due to the Consuls and the most influential families (Cornellius Scipius, Aemilius Paullus and the Gracchus) never ending desire for greater glory and land.

You will read about Hannibal and the resistance from Numantia; about the Greek Phalanxes and about the land reform that Tiberius Gracchus the young introduced by defying the Senate, a revolutionary act that ultimately costed him his life.

There is much more to learn, but I have yet to do this myself as I only started the book yesterday... Fascinating