The History of Rome

083- May His Bones Be Crushed

01 Mar 2010

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Hadrian's relationship with the teenage boy Antinous raised eyebrows even in permissive Ancient Rome. His relationship with the Jews raises eyebrows e...

082- Hadrian's Walls

01 Mar 2010

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Hadrian's reign got off to a rough start following the political murders of four ex-consuls. The new Emperor would eventually settle in though and set...

081- The Greekling

01 Mar 2010

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Though Hadrian's career had long been guided by Trajan, when the Emperor died in 117 he still had not named Hadrian heir.

080- Optimus Trajan

01 Mar 2010

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Trajan greatly improved the infrastructure of the Empire and finished his reign by conquering much of the Middle East.

079- The Dacian Wars

01 Mar 2010

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After Trajan ascended to the throne in 98 AD he fought two wars against the Dacians, finally annexing the country in 106 AD.

078- Imperial Stop Gap

01 Mar 2010

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Nerva's brief reign was stormy, but his choice of Trajan as heir was inspired.

077- What Time is It?

01 Mar 2010

Contributed by Lukas

After Saturninus's revolt in 89 AD, Domitian's paranoia increased. In 96 AD court officials afraid for their lives conspired to have the Emperor kille...

076- Mock Triumphs

01 Mar 2010

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Domitian attempted to emulate Augustus, but his heavy-handed treatment of the Senate earned him many enemies. Meanwhile, his focus on frontier defense...

075- The Forgotten Son

01 Mar 2010

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Domitian had spent his life in the background, but in 81 AD he found himself Emperor and soon demonstrated that he had very strong ideas about how to ...

074- Friends I Have Wasted a Day

01 Mar 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Titus succeeded his father to the throne in 79 AD, but ruled for only two years before dying of a sudden infection in 81. Throughout the reign of the ...

073- The Only Man Who Improved

01 Mar 2010

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Vespasian served as Emperor from 69-79 AD, stabilizing the Empire after a year of Civil War.

072- Vitellius and Vespasian

01 Mar 2010

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Vitellius's reign was underminned by internal squabbling, allowing Vespasian's army to sieze Rome in December 69 AD.

071- Otho and Vitellius

01 Mar 2010

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After murdering Galba, Otho ascended to the throne in January 69 AD. He immediately had to deal with Vitellius revolt and after suffering a defeat at ...

070- Galba and Otho: The History of Rome

01 Mar 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Galba's refusal to pay off the Praetorian Guard came back to haunt him when Otho looked for accomplices to aid in his assassination plot early in 69 A...

069- As History of Rome Wedding

01 Mar 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Marriage was one of the key institutions of Roman culture and many of the traditions surrounding weddings persist today.

068- Three Emperors

01 Mar 2010

Contributed by Lukas

The personalities of each of the men who vied for the throne in 69 AD had a major impact on how events unfolded.

067- What an Artist the World is Losing

01 Mar 2010

Contributed by Lukas

In 66 AD the Great Revolt broke out in Judaea, leading Nero to appoint Vespasian to crush the uprising. But the Emperor did not live to see the end of...

066- 666

01 Mar 2010

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Nero's popularity with the people began to wane in the early 60s AD. Things got so bad that after the Great Fire of Rome swept through the city, many ...

065- Burn It To The Ground

01 Mar 2010

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Between 58 and 63 AD Rome dealt with a major conflict over the Kingdom of Armenia and a revolt in Britain led by the warrior Queen Boudica.

064- Smite My Womb

01 Mar 2010

Contributed by Lukas

After Nero came to power he was dominated by Agrippina. But it didn't take long before the 16-year-old Emperor got tired of his mother telling him wha...

063- A Farewell to Claudius

01 Mar 2010

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Claudius turned out to be one of the more successful Emperors in Roman history, but unfortunately in 54 AD he was assassinated to make way for one of ...

062- Take My Wife...Please

01 Mar 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Though Claudius had great success in his public life, his private life was a different story. Each of his marriages ended in either divorce or executi...

061- What, me Claudius?

01 Mar 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Claudius became Emperor after the assassination of Caligula in 41 AD. Far from a bumbling fool, Claudius turned out to be capable and dedicated ruler.

060- No Better Slave, No Worse Master

01 Mar 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Caligula was insane. Luckily for the Romans, he wielded absolute power.

058- Partner of my Labors

01 Mar 2010

Contributed by Lukas

After the death of Tiberius's son Drusus, Praetorian Prefect Lucius Sejanus's influence grew exponentially. Sejanus was the defacto ruler of Rome from...

059- To the Tiber with Tiberius

01 Mar 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Tiberius's final years were consumed with treason trials and private licentiousness. After he died in 37 AD, the infamous Caligula ascended to the thr...

057- Germanicus

28 Feb 2010

Contributed by Lukas

The early years of Tiberius's reign were defined by his growing jealousy of his nephew/adopted son Germanicus. After winning victories on the far side...

056- The King is Dead, Long Live the King

28 Feb 2010

Contributed by Lukas

055- Teutoburg Nightmares

28 Feb 2010

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The Julio-Claudian family was rife with conflict, but nothing compared to the battle fought against the Germans in the Teutoburg Forest.

054- All in the Family

28 Feb 2010

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Augustus promoted his steps sons Tiberius and Drusus to high office long before they were technically eligible. He hoped they would share power with h...

053- Reigning Supreme

28 Feb 2010

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After attaining power, Augustus set about reforming the Empire.

052- Caesar Augustus

28 Feb 2010

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The Senate bestowed upon Octavian the title Caesar Augustus during the constitutional settlement of 27 BC. Four years later Augustus and the Senate al...

051- Actium

28 Feb 2010

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On Sept 2, 31 BC Octavian defeated Antony at the Battle of Actium. Antony and Cleopatra fled back to Alexandria where they committed suicide the next ...

050- The Donations of Alexandria

28 Feb 2010

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After Antony failed to conquer Parthia, the Triumvirate partnership broke down, leading to a declaration of war.

049- Apollo and Dionysus

28 Feb 2010

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After winning the Battle of Philippi Antony and Octavian divided the empire into two halves. Antony took control of the east where he formed an allian...

048- The Second Triumvirate

28 Feb 2010

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In 43 BC Marc Antony, Octavian and Marcus Lepidus formed the Second Triumvirate. After initiating proscriptions to raise funds and purge their enemies...

047- Octavius-Octavian

28 Feb 2010

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Caesar posthumously adopted his great nephew Gaius Octavius and the 19-year-old was thrust into the center of Roman politics. In the months following ...

046- Sic Semper Tyrannis

28 Feb 2010

Contributed by Lukas

In the last months of his life, rumors swirled about Caesar's monarchical ambitions. On the Ides of March 44 BC, a group of Senators put the issue to ...

045- The End of the War

28 Feb 2010

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Caesar took the overland route back from Egypt back to Rome and along the way pacified what little resistance he came across. After a brief stay in It...

044- Caesar Triumphant

28 Feb 2010

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Following a setback at Dyrrachium, Caesar decisively won the Battle of Pharsalus in 48 BC. After defeating Pompey, Caesar sailed for Alexandria, where...

043- Insert Well Known Idiom Here

28 Feb 2010

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In 49 BC Caesar led a single legion across the Rubicon River, sparking a civil war that would lead to the death of the Roman Republic.

042- Meanwhile, Back in Rome

28 Feb 2010

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While Caesar was fighting the Gallic Wars, events in Rome and beyond exacerbated the political tensions that would eventually lead to Civil War.

041b- The Gallic Wars

28 Feb 2010

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From 57-52 BC Caesar slowly conquered Gaul. Along the way he crossed into Germania twice and led the first Roman expedition to Britain. Finally, the l...

041a- The Gallic Wars

28 Feb 2010

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After beginning his proconsulship of Cisalpine Gaul in 58 BC Caesar was asked to halt the advance of a migrating Celtic tribe. He managed to turn them...

040- In the Consulship of Julius and Caesar

28 Feb 2010

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In 59 BC Julius Caesar served a controversial year in the consulship. He pressed for land and administrative reforms the conservative Senate opposed.

039- The Young Julius Caesar Chronicles

28 Feb 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Julius Caesar had an eventful career on his way up the Cursus Honorum. He won the Civic Crown in Asia, was captured by pirates on his way to Rhodes, a...

038- The Catiline Conspiracy

28 Feb 2010

Contributed by Lukas

In 63 BC an embittered two-time consular candidate named Catiline conspired to overthrow the Roman government. He was stopped by Rome's greatest polit...

037- Go East Young Man

28 Feb 2010

Contributed by Lukas

After clearing the Mediterranean of pirates in 67 BC Pompey was put in charge of the war with Mithridates. He promptly conquered his way to Jerusalem.

036- I Am Spartacus!

28 Feb 2010

Contributed by Lukas

From 73-71 BC a gladiator named Spartacus led a slave revolt in southern Italy. Despite defeating the Romans on numerous occasions, the slave army was...

035- Crassus and Pompey

28 Feb 2010

Contributed by Lukas

After Sulla's death two men emerged as the vanguard of Rome's new political generation: Marcus Crassus who would become Rome's richest man and Pompey ...

034- No Greater Friend, No Worse Enemy

28 Feb 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Sulla returned from the east and after winning a short Civil War was made Dictator for Life. After purging his enemies and reorganizing the consitutio...

033- Marius and Sulla

28 Feb 2010

Contributed by Lukas

032- The Social War

28 Feb 2010

Contributed by Lukas

031b- Marius

28 Feb 2010

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031a- Marius

28 Feb 2010

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030- Gaius Gracchus

28 Feb 2010

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029- Tiberius Gracchus

28 Feb 2010

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028- Taking Stock

28 Feb 2010

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027- Mopping Up

28 Feb 2010

Contributed by Lukas

026- The Third Macedonian War

28 Feb 2010

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025- The Syrian War

28 Feb 2010

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024- The Second Macedonian War

28 Feb 2010

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023e- The War With Hannibal

28 Feb 2010

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023d- The War With Hannibal

28 Feb 2010

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023c- The War With Hannibal

28 Feb 2010

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023b- The War With Hannibal

28 Feb 2010

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023a- The War With Hannibal

28 Feb 2010

Contributed by Lukas

022- Prelude to the Second Punic War

28 Feb 2010

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021- Interbellum

28 Feb 2010

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020b- The First Punic War

28 Feb 2010

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020a- The First Punic War

28 Feb 2010

Contributed by Lukas

019- Prelude to the First Punic War

28 Feb 2010

Contributed by Lukas

It was inevitable that the Romans and Cartheginians would run into each other one day.

018- A History of Rome Christmas

28 Feb 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Many of the traditions that surround modern Christmas have their roots in Saturnalia and the Feast of Sol Invictus.

017- Pyrrhic Victories

28 Feb 2010

Contributed by Lukas

The Greek cities of southern Italy called on King Pyrrhus of Epirus to protect them from Roman encroachment. Though Pyrrhus was undefeated in battle, ...

016- The Third Samnite War

27 Feb 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Rome battled a combined army of Samnites, Etruscans, Umbrians and Gauls for control of Italy. At Sentinum, the two sides fought the largest battle in ...

015b- The Second Samnite War

27 Feb 2010

Contributed by Lukas

After a five year break, hostilities resumed between the Romans and Samnites. Despite early setbacks, Rome eventually emerged victorious in 304 BC. Du...

015a- The Second Samnite War

25 Feb 2010

Contributed by Lukas

After a decade of peace, the Romans and Samnites returned to war. The early years of fighting went well for Rome, but in 321 BC they were handed a hum...

014b- A Phalanx With Joints

25 Feb 2010

Contributed by Lukas

The Roman army abandoned the Greek phalanx in favor of a new system based on a three line deployment organized by age and experience.

014a- A Phalanx With Joints

25 Feb 2010

Contributed by Lukas

For hundreds of years the Roman Army used the Greek phalanx, but during the Samnite Wars they were forced to develop a new distinctly Roman system.

013- The Latin War

25 Feb 2010

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The Romans fought a final war against their Latin neighbors from 340-338 BC. The Romans won a decisive victory and the Latin League was abolished once...

012- The First Samnite War

25 Feb 2010

Contributed by Lukas

From 343-341 BC Rome fought a brief war against the Samnites, a powerful hill tribe who would plague the Romans for the rest of the century. The Roman...

011- The Morning After

25 Feb 2010

Contributed by Lukas

In the decades after the Gauls abandoned Rome to its fate, the Romans were forced to battle both external threats and internal sedition. The Plebes, s...

010: Barbarians at the Gates

25 Feb 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Soon after the war with Veii, Rome was sacked by invading Gauls. The event traumatized the Romans and left their city in ruins. It would be the last t...

009- A Trojan War

25 Feb 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Economic necessity forced a final conflict with Veii, Rome's Etruscan rival to the north. After years of inconclusive fighting, Marcus Furius Camillus...

008- Decades of Gloom

25 Feb 2010

Contributed by Lukas

The years after the creation of the Twelve Tables were hard. Political discord, grain shortages and famine all conspired to weaken the city, but the R...

007- The Roman Washington

25 Feb 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Cincinnatus was famously appointed dictator of Rome in 458 BC and then resigned soon after, securing his place in history as a paradigm of republican ...

006- The Twelve Tables

25 Feb 2010

Contributed by Lukas

In 451 BC a committee was ordered to compile and then condense Roman law into a single text called the Twelve Tables of Law. Despite tyrannical machin...

005- Trials and Tribunlations

25 Feb 2010

Contributed by Lukas

The infant Roman Republic faced many challenges as it grew into adolescence, both internally and externally. Most significantly class divisions led to...

004- The Public Thing

25 Feb 2010

Contributed by Lukas

The monarchy had been overthrown and the Roman Republic was now established. Despite the appearance of a free democratic republic, the Romans were bes...

003b- The Seven Kings of Rome

25 Feb 2010

Contributed by Lukas

The last days of the Roman Kingdom were ruled over by the three members of the so-called Tarquin Dynasty: Tarquinius Priscus, Servius Tullius and Tarq...

003a- The Seven Kings of Rome

25 Feb 2010

Contributed by Lukas

This week we cover the first three of Romulus's successors to the throne: Numa Pompulius, Tullus Hostilius and Ancus Marcius, who they were and what a...

002- Youthful Indiscretions

25 Feb 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Last time we discussed the events that lead to the birth of Rome, covering the arrival of Aeneas in Italy and the story of the twins Romulus and Remus...

001- In the Beginning

28 Jul 2007

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The History of Rome, a weekly series tracing the rise and fall of the Roman Empire. Today we will hear the mythical origin story of Rome an...