THE HISTORY OF ROME- THE ETERNAL CITY Several expressions have been used to describe the unique city of Rome and capital of Italy. The ‘navel' of the world, the eternal city, centre of western Christianity to cite just a few. Rome has three thousand years of history that have created the character of the city and left their mark in forming an urban structure with no comparison. Every century gentlemen of Rome from generals to emperors, from popes to princes, have left their personal stamp on the city. They were responsible for commissioning artists and architects to design the most famous buildings, sculptures and paintings which today give the city it's enchanting appearance. The capital combines both past and present, as well as secular and Christian. During the course of it's long history, Rome has decisively influenced the religious and cultural history of Europe. Latin, the language of the Antique Empire, makes up the foundations of many of western Europe's languages. Antique Rome's political and judiciary systems have been used as a model for a large number of states and legislative systems. During medieval times the concept of the Imperial Christian emerges from Rome, while the Pope's power strengthened during the renaissance era and their court became the cultural centre acting as a catalyst the history of Rome moved in to another direction. For many a century the fame and fortune of Rome was interwined with the Church and when the Pope left Rome for France the city suffered terrible economic consequences. But, in modern history, Rome has regained importance especially since the re-unification of Italy symbolized by the imposing memorial to Vittorio Emanuele II is considered to be the heart of Rome at Piazza Venezia. Architecture, sculptures and paintings of ancient Rome have served as a model for all western art both in antiquity and modern day. The city of Rome still attracts and amazes millions of visitors with its never-ending story. The history of Rome that spans milleniums is still there to be discovered, and with a local expert guide you can re-live the great days of the Eternal City. For further information on the tours we offer in Rome ........... FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE HISTORY OF ROME THE BEGINNINGS, MYTHS & TRUTHS - The history of Rome linked with the creation of the Eternal city has a large number of myths. Amongst Roman ancestors is Enea, who escaped from Troy in flames with his father Anchise and his son Ascanio, they arrived on the coast of Lazio where he later married the daughter of the king. For more information....... THE ROMAN REPUBLIC- TOWARDS UNIVERSAL POWER - After the fall of the monarchy, at the end of the 6th century BC , roman citizens were divided into patricians, (the noble families) and the Plebians, ( poor families.) The nobles took over political and religious power and this saw the start of the republic age in the history of Rome. In the 5th and 4th centuries BC, Rome had to defend itself from continuous attacks from the Etruscan city of Veio and then from the Celts, Latins, and from the Samnites, whilst internally there were violent class battles between the aristocracy and the masses. For more information ...... THE ROMAN EMPIRE- L'IMPERIUM ROMANUM - Augusto, Caesar's young nephew inherited this heavy legacy, after 17 years of civil war he was able to re-establish peace within the empire. He re-introduced the republic which in reality had absolute power. During his 41 year reign (27 BC - 14 AD), Augusto created the foundations for a government for the whole of the empire during probably the greatest period of history for Ancient Rome. For more information ............... CHRISTIAN ROME - In the 1st Century AD, the history of Rome took another turn when the Apostles Peter and Paul arrived in Rome, they found a small Christian community that during the following century would grow quite considerably despite continued prosecutions. The tolerance edict of 311 returned to the Christians all churches, private houses, previously confiscated land and property. Two years later with the Edict of Milan, Costantino recognised Christianity as the official religion. For more information ............... TOWARDS THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE - As soon as the situation seemed to have calmed down, after the war between the ‘Ostrogoti' and Bisanzio (535-552) there was the impending threat of invasion by the ‘Longobards' There are ever growing amounts of populations who destroy and loot the city resulting in VI century 50,000 inhabitants that fell to less than 25,000 in the 8th and 9th Centuries. As the History of Rome entered its darkest hours . For more information ............... MEDIEVAL ROME- THE STRUGGLE FOR POWER - The medieval centuries represent a problematic chapter in the history of Rome. The city suffered due to conflicts between popes and emperors, were unprotected and exposed to attacks and looting by the Saracens (846) and Normans (1084) and overcome by the anarchy caused by the struggle for power between aristocratic families and the pope. For more information ............ THE RENAISSANCE - Martino V and his successors over Peter's desk create the introduction for a spiritual and political renewal of the church. During the course of the 15th Century, they were able to appoint to the papal state real power that from the time of Carlo Magna had only existed in name. A major turning point in the history of Rome, the conditions are created for the reconstruction of the city whose new splendour must be raised within the ideal centre of Christianity. For more information .................. MODERN HISTORY OF ROME - VITTORIO EMANUEL II- A KING FOR ITALY - The Romans made fun of the monument of Vittorio Emanuele inaugurated in 1911 in Piazz Venezia by calling it the wedding cake or the dentures (‘dentiera'). The marble monster designed in 1885 by Giuseppe Sacconi and carried out by Pio Piacentini, Manfredo Manfredi and Gaetano Koch was only finished in 1927 under the rule of Il Duce. Celeberating the re-unification of Italy and the confirmation of Rome as the capital of the newly founded Italy. For further information............... Top |
