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Rome (Most powerful state)

the most powerful state of antiquity; founded about 753 B. C. by a settlement from Alba Longa led by ROMULUS (q. v.). At first the new city was ruled by kings, but in 509 B. c. the people established a republic which lasted for 500 years. Its most important feature was the struggle between the plebeians and the patricians, settled finally in 286 B. c., by admission of the plebeians to a share in the government. Meanwhile Rome had been gradually spreading out, and by 275 B. c. was mistress of all Italy.

The next 30 years were crucial in the history of Rome. Her aggressive policy in the Mediterranean brought her face to face with CARTHAGE (q. v.), and under their military genius HANNIBAL, (q. v.) the Carthaginians threatened the very existence of Rome itself (see Pu- NIC WARS). Carthage was finally burned to the ground in 146 B. C. By 133 B. C.

Rome had conquered Macedonia and Asia Minor.

At this point begins the decline of Rome as a republic. A series of bitter ; civil wars centralized the governing power in the hands of a few leaders (see SULLA: MARIUS: POMPEY: CÆSAR: TRI- UMVIRATE); and in 48 B. C. Julius Cæsar was created Imperator. With Cæsar the republic and Rome's greatest period came to an end. Under the republic the power of Rome had been extended from Arabia to Great Britain, and from Spain to Armenia. See MITHRIDATES.

In 27 B. C. Octavian became first emperor of Rome under the title of Au- GUSTUS (q. v.). His immediate successors added slightly to Roman territory, but under MARCUS AURELIUS (q. v.) the decline began. From A. D. 180 to 284 (see TRAJAN) Rome grew gradually weaker. In 284 DIOCLETIAN (q. v.) re- HOTEL BRISTOL NAPOLI Ewing Galloway THE ROMAN FORUM Enc. Vol. 8-p. 100 Ewing Galloway THE COLISEUM, ROME, ITALY Keystone View Company A CELEBRATION OF MASS FOR ITALIAN TROOPS IN THE INTERIOR OF THE COLISEUM Keystone View Company THE SISTINE CHAPEL IN THE VATICAN, WITH MICHELANGELO'S MURAL PAINTING OF THE "LAST JUDGMENT" Keystone View Company HALL OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, THE VATICAN, ROME, ITALY Keystone View Company CASTLE ST. ANGELO AND BRIDGE OVER THE TIBER, ROME DEN HAAG Keystone View Company A BUSY CANAL IN THE CITY OF ROTTERDAM, IN THE NETHERLANDS HOOS Underwood & Underwood THE ROYAL GORGE, COLORADO ROME organized the empire, and for nearly 200 years these reforms delayed the indisruption; but in 395 the empire separated into two divisions; the Eastern, or BYZANTINE (q. v.) and the Western; Western; and in 476 the Western, or Roman empire was finally overthrown, a German, became King of Italy.

Italy. See ITALY: ROMANCE LANGUAGES.