Ancient Rome

The Roman Empire, which at times included much of the known world, came into being following the five centuries of the Republican period in the history of Rome. The Roman Empire was founded in 27 B.C. and existed as a unified entity until approximately A.D. 480. During this period, the Roman Empire extended from the Middle East to the British Isles. The Roman Empire is remembered for its influence of language, law, military operations, and culture. The Roman Empire was ruled by a succession of emperors, and a 200-year period of peace that began with the reign of Caesar Augustus is known today as the “Pax Romana.”

STC358074 The Battle of Aquae Sextiae, 102 B.C. (litho) by Valda, John Harris (d.1941); Private Collection; (add.info.: On their march to join the Cimbri, the Teutoni were met by a Roman army under Marius near Aquae Sextiae (Aix-en-Provence) and completely destroyed; Mont Sainte-Victoire in the background;); The Stapleton Collection; English, it is possible that some works by this artist may be protected by third party rights in some territories

Ancient Rome

Roman Legion: The Reforms of Marius

By Lindsay Powell

The basic unit of the Roman army of the late Republic was the legion, derived from the Latin word legio, meaning “military levy.” Read more

Ancient Rome

The History of War Elephants: From Ancient India to Vietnam

By David Ison

Imagine a time when human knowledge of elephants was not widespread. Just think how threatening these large animals would be coming over a hillside or out of a mist during battle. Read more

With the fresh memory of their slaughtered comrades , the Roman legionaries at the Long Bridges fought with one thought and one will—revenge.

Ancient Rome

Germanicus Cæsar

By Michael D. Greaney

In ancient Rome, politics and family were inextricably linked. The incestuous nature of the ruling Julio-Claudian dynasty was well embodied by the brief but notable career of Germanicus, who rose to the heights of power, only to be cast down by his own blood kin. Read more

Romans under Prefect Lucius Eggius storm a German rampart consisting of a waist-high palisade of stakes interlaced with twigs and branches that ran along the top of an embankment.

Ancient Rome

How Arminius Deceived the Holy Roman Empire

By William E. Welsh

With their proclivity for feats of engineering, the Romans methodically advanced their frontiers. The glory-seeking Roman generals saw a wide river, mountain chain, or expansive swath of desert as a challenge. Read more

When Julius Caesar and Pompey squared off in their Civil War, ruses, lies, and interrogations affected the outcome.

Ancient Rome

Julius Caesar vs Pompey: A Civil War of Subterfuge

By Douglas Sterling

Unlike Pompey, much of Julius Caesar’s military successes in the late Roman Republic stemmed not only from his ability as a leader of men and from tactical prowess on the battlefield, but also from his understanding of the importance of military intelligence. Read more

Trajan, Emperor of Rome, was a tough and meticulous general as well as a capable administrator and builder.

Ancient Rome

Emperor Trajan & The Roman Empire

by Joseph M. Horodyski

The ancient city of Selinus, a major trading center in Cilicia, sat atop a steep outcropping of rock that rises abruptly from the edge of the Mediterranean on the southern coast of Asia Minor, now modern Turkey. Read more

During the Battle of Allia, ‘mere barbarians’ defeated the elite Roman army when the Gauls sacked Rome.

Ancient Rome

Battle of Allia: the Gauls Sack Rome

by Ludwig Heinrich Dyck

The Celts, like all other Indo-European peoples, originated on the steppes of Eurasia, from whence they drifted into central Europe. Read more

Ancient Rome

Emperor Julian “The Apostate”

By Kaveh Farrokh

“[W]hen Emperor Julian had received the wound [in Persia], he filled his hand with blood, flung it into the air and cried, Thou hast won, O Galilean,” wrote Theodoret of Cyrus. Read more

Ancient Rome

Game Reviews: Total War: ATTILA

by Joseph Luster

The Creative Assembly’s Total War series now has a legacy spanning nearly 15 years of computer strategy. What started in 2000 with Shogun: Total War gradually expanded to include a variety of eras—as well as a variety of spin-offs and player-created mods—each putting players in the role of history’s greatest commanders. Read more

Ancient Rome

Who is Julius Caesar? Facts vs Myth

By Brooke C. Stoddard

Few men’s names resonate after two thousand years, for it is a very long stretch of time. Read more

Had Attila the Hun prevailed at the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains, both Eastern and Western Roman Empires might have fallen to a man who disdained nearly any form of civilization.

Ancient Rome

Attila the Hun & The Battle of the Catalaunian Plains

By Brooke C. Stoddard

History is as solid as bricks. Things happened and they can’t be changed.

But they can be seen with a fresh eye, or they can be noted for effects not apparent at the time. Read more

Ancient Rome

How The Roman Empire Attained Success

By Brooke C. Stoddard

“Augustus found Rome brick and left it marble” is an expression pegged to the first of the Roman emperors. Read more

It is easy to see only the glories of Rome, but it is just as important to bear in mind the horrors committed for the sake of the Empire.

Ancient Rome

The Roman Empire: Conquest Above All Else

by Brooke C. Stoddard

“Augustus found Rome brick and left it marble” is an expression pegged to the first of the Roman emperors. Read more

A romantic painting by Henryck Siemiradski shows Nero watching as Christians are burned in retaliation for their supposed torching of Rome.

Ancient Rome

Nero’s Blame in the Great Fire of Rome

By Al Hemingway

The image most people have of the Roman emperor Nero is of him perched at the summit of the Palatine hills, strumming his lyre while Rome is engulfed in flames. Read more

Hannibal could probably have taken Rome itself immediately after the Battle of Cannae, so why didn't he?

Ancient Rome

Hannibal, Rome and Cannae

by Keith Milton

It could be argued that Hannibal’s hesitation to go after Rome shortly after Cannae was because he lacked a siege train. Read more

The accomplishments of Hannibal were great, even in his own time, but the underestimation of the resiliency of his enemy proved to be his undoing.

Ancient Rome

Hannibal of Carthage: Scourge of Rome

By Jonas L. Goldstein

The accomplishments of Hannibal from his departure from Spain, his crossing of the Alps, and his battles on the Italian peninsula, climaxing with his great victory at Cannae, were enough to permanently etch his name among the greatest military leaders of history. Read more

Ancient Rome

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Jeffrey J. Matthews’ ‘Generals and Admirals, Criminals and Crooks’

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Axis Powers: The Infamous Tripartite Pact

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