Ancient Rome Archives ‑ History.com

Was Commodus the Worst Emperor in Ancient Roman History?

By some historians’ measure, he was the cruelest and most demented of the bunch.

8 Fascinating Facts About Ancient Roman Medicine

Medicine in ancient Rome combined scientific knowledge with supernatural and religious beliefs. Roman doctors adopted many of the practices and philosophies of the Greek physician Hippocrates and his followers—particularly after the 219 B.C. arrival of Archagathus of Sparta, credited as the first Greek doctor to practice in the city. Yet, ancient Romans also wore amulets […]

What Role Did Women Play in Ancient Rome?

Women in ancient Rome, whether free or enslaved, played many roles: empress, priestess, goddess, shop owner, midwife, prostitute, daughter, wife and mother. But they lacked any voice in public life. They also lacked a voice in history. With few exceptions—like the words of the female poet Sulpicia or the graffiti of a woman summoning her […]

5 Ways Christianity Spread Through Ancient Rome

How did Christianity go from a small sect in a corner of the Roman Empire in the first century, to the religion that the emperor converted to in the early fourth century? Its spread was greatly aided by the empire’s political unification and extensive road system, as well as the belief among many Christians that […]

How the Colosseum Was Built—and Why It Was an Architectural Marvel

The Flavian Amphitheater, better known as the Colosseum, stands as one of the most spectacular architectural monuments of the ancient world. Built in the first century A.D., it’s largely remembered as the site of blood‑sport entertainment involving gladiators, wild animals and more. But as one of ancient Rome’s best surviving and most iconic structures, it […]

5 Famous Ancient Roman Gladiators

Before ancient Roman gladiators fought grisly battles in rowdy public arenas like the Colosseum, they squared off in much more solemn venues: funerals. Early gladiator fights began in the 3rd century B.C.E. as ritual blood offerings to the spirits of recently departed nobles. That changed around 27 B.C.E. when Augustus took power in Rome, says […]

Did Women Fight as Gladiators in Ancient Rome?

Were there female gladiators in ancient Rome? While sparse, evidence exists in art, laws and written accounts that women did participate in the brutal sport during the late Roman Republic and early Roman Empire, fighting each other fiercely with weapons for entertainment. But they didn’t fight nearly to the same degree as men did—and did […]

11 Roman Emperors Who Helped Mold the Ancient World

Few periods in history have had a greater impact on humankind than that of ancient Rome. While its influence on western civilization, in particular, has been ubiquitous, its remnants can be found virtually everywhere, from our calendar and political systems to our alphabet. The more‑than‑1,000‑year span of influence that began with the founding of Rome […]

How Julius Caesar’s Assassination Triggered the Fall of the Roman Republic

By the time Julius Caesar stepped in front of the Roman Senate on the Ides of March in 44 B.C., the nearly 500‑year‑old Roman Republic had been ailing for years. Wealth inequality, political gridlock and civil wars had all weakened the republic in the century prior to Caesar’s ascension to power. Caesar’s increasingly autocratic reign […]

How Ancient Rome Thrived During Pax Romana

After decades of political dysfunction, civil wars and assassinations that caused the Roman Republic’s downfall, Ancient Rome flourished during two centuries of relative tranquility and prosperity known as the Pax Romana (Latin for “Roman Peace”). Ushered in by the ascension of Augustus as the first Roman emperor in 27 B.C., this era of political stability […]

How Far Did Ancient Rome Spread?

Legend has it that Romulus and Remus—twin brothers who were also demi‑gods—founded Rome on the River Tiber in 753 B.C. Over the next eight and a half centuries, it grew from a small town of pig farmers into a vast empire that stretched from England to Egypt and completely surrounded the Mediterranean Sea. The Roman […]

How Rome Destroyed Its Own Republic

Imagine a world in which political norms have broken down. Senators use bad faith arguments to block the government from getting anything done. An autocrat rigs elections and gives himself complete control over the government. Even stranger, many voters subscribe to the autocrat’s personality cult and agree that he should have absolute control. Welcome to […]