The Rise of Rome

Dekker)

DAILY LIVING

Roman authors say little of the life of the people, but structures, objects, and carvings have survived that throw light on everyday pursuits. The rich lived in spacious luxury, as can be seen in first-century A.D. Pompeii (Photo: S. H. O’Leary), but most urban Romans made do with one or two rooms in apartment blocks, or insulae, like this one (restored) in Ostia.

There were few facilities for cooking at home in an insula and eating out was popular, as at this bistro with a heated bar for keeping food warm (Photo: Daniele Florio). It is backed by a fresco that shows the spirit of the house flanked by the household gods, with Mercury, god of business and commerce, on the far left and Bacchus, god of wine, on the far right.

Sex was widely available, and often for sale; this bedroom fresco gave stimulation and guidance to its occupants. Brothels thrived. So too did old-fashioned male attitudes, as a Pompeiian wall graffito indicated. “If Venus can break my tender heart, why can’t I hit her over the head?” (Photo: Heinrich Sturzl)

TIME LINE

Dates in italics are traditional and legendary. Some traditional dates are judged likely to be historical. Some people and places are listed here whose names, to avoid an excess of detail, do not appear in the main text.

1084

Fall of Troy.

753

Romulus founds Rome.

c. 625

Earliest evidence of contact with the Etruscans.

753–715

Romulus.

715–673

Numa Pompilius.

673–642

Tullus Hostilius.

642–616

Ancus Marcius.

617–579

Tarquinius Priscus.

579–534

Servius Tullius.

534–510

Tarquinius Superbus.

509

Fall of the monarchy. First treaty with Carthage.

494

First secession.

493

Treaty of Spurius Cassius with the Latins.

491

Coriolanus marches on Rome.

From 486

Wars with the Aequi and Volsci from time to time over the next fifty years.

479

Battle of the Cremera; sacrifice of the Fabii.

474

Etruscans defeated off Cumae by Hiero I of Syracuse.

471

Concilium plebis and tribunes recognized.

451–450

Rule of the decemvirs. Twelve Tables published.

449

Secession. Valerio-Horatian laws. Rights of tribunes legally defined.

447

Quaestors elected by the People.

Comitia tributa probably established.

445

Military tribunes with consular powers replace the consulship.

443

Censors appointed for the first time.

431

Dictatorship of Cincinnatus.

Battle of Mons Algidus. Aequi decisively defeated.

396

Pay for soldiers introduced.

Fall of Veii.

390 (or 387)

Battle of the Allia.

Sack of Rome.

378

Construction of Rome’s Servian walls starts.

367

Licinio-Sextian Rogations passed.

Consulship restored. Curule aediles elected for the first time.

366

First plebeian consul elected. First praetors elected.

358