The Legend of Ancient Rome
What’s a Legend? A legend is a made-up story about someone who did something
amazing.
The Story of Romulus and Remus:
Romulus and Remus were twin brothers.
Their father was Mars, the God of War, and their mother was Rhea Silvia, a princess.
An evil king, Amulius, threw them into a river because he was afraid they might take his
throne.
A kind she-wolf saved them and took care of them.
Later, a shepherd named Faustulus found them and raised them.
When they grew up, they defeated the evil king and helped their grandfather regain his
throne.
Building Rome
The twins wanted to build a city but argued about where to put it.
Romulus chose Palatine Hill, and Remus chose Aventine Hill.
Remus teased Romulus by jumping over his wall, so Romulus got angry and killed him.
Romulus became the first King of Rome in 753 BC.
He filled his city with people like runaway slaves and criminals.
And that’s how the story says Rome began!
The Roman Army
Why It Was Important: The Roman army was super strong and helped Rome build its big
empire.
How It Started:
At first, soldiers were rich citizens who only fought during wars.
They copied Greek soldiers, fighting on foot with long spears.
How It Changed:
Later, being a soldier became a full-time job. Soldiers were highly trained and stayed in the
army for years.
Army Groups:
Soldiers were organized into large groups called legions.
Each legion had smaller groups: cohorts, centuries, and tiny groups of 8 who shared tents.
Becoming a Soldier:
You had to be 25 and a Roman citizen to join as a legionary.
Non-citizens could join as auxiliaries and earn citizenship after retirement.
Training:
Soldiers trained hard: building camps, swimming, and learning to fight.
They carried heavy armor and practiced battle formations like the turtle and wedge.
Discipline and Rewards:
Soldiers were punished if they disobeyed but got medals and rewards for bravery.
Other Jobs:
Soldiers also built roads, forts, and bridges and set up camps during campaigns.
Free Time:
They relaxed by playing board games or visiting baths.
The Roman army wasn’t just about fighting—it helped build and protect the Roman Empire!
The Spread of the Roman Empire
1. Starting Small
The Roman Empire began as a small city in Rome, Italy, around 753 BCE.
Over time, Romans became strong warriors and good leaders.
2. Conquering Italy
Rome first took control of nearby towns and cities in Italy.
By 264 BCE, the Romans ruled almost all of Italy.
3. Expanding Through Wars
The Romans fought wars to control more land.
They won and gained places like Spain, North Africa, and parts of the Mediterranean.
4. Controlling the Mediterranean
By 100 BCE, the Romans called the Mediterranean Sea “Our Sea” because they controlled
most of the lands around it.
They conquered Greece, Egypt, and Turkey.
5. Going Far and Wide
The Roman Empire grew into Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.
They ruled places like Britain, France (Gaul), Germany, and parts of Asia.
6. Building Roads and Cities
Romans built roads and cities to connect their empire.
This made it easier to trade, travel, and send soldiers quickly.
8. Why the Empire Spread
The Roman army was very strong and well-trained.
Roman leaders were clever at making deals with conquered people.
Their roads and laws helped keep the empire united.
The Roman Empire became one of the biggest and most powerful empires in history!
Ancient Roman Roads
1. Before Roman Roads:
Before Roman roads, people used dirt paths that became muddy and hard to use in bad
weather. The Romans wanted better roads to make travel faster and easier.
2. Why Better Roads?
Romans needed strong roads to move their soldiers, trade goods, and send messages
quickly across their large empire.
3. First Roman Roads in Britain:
When the Romans came to Britain, they built roads like Watling Street and Fosse Way.
These helped connect towns and forts.
4. Built in Layers:
Roman roads were strong because they were made in layers:
Bottom layer: Large stones for strength.
Middle layer: Smaller stones and gravel for support.
Top layer: Smooth stones or paving for easy travel.
5. Still Useful Today:
Some Roman roads were so well-built that they are still used today or can be seen as
historical sites!
6. Connected the Empire:
Roman roads helped bring people together, making the empire stronger and more
organized.
Roman Religion
Many Gods: Romans believed in lots of gods and goddesses who looked after different
parts of life.
Borrowed Ideas: They copied gods and traditions from other cultures and made them their
own.
Good and Bad Luck: Romans believed in signs (omens) and did rituals to get good luck.
Temples and Festivals: They prayed, made sacrifices, and had big celebrations every
month for their gods.
Some Roman Gods and Goddesses:
Jupiter: King of the gods, ruler of the sky.
Juno: Queen of the gods, protector of women.
Neptune: God of the seas and earthquakes.
Pluto: God of the underworld, with a three-headed dog named Cerberus.
Venus: Goddess of love and beauty, her symbol was a rose.
• The Romans celebrated their gods with fun festivals, like Saturnalia, which was like
today’s Christmas!
Ancient Roman Houses
1. Wooden Huts
The first Romans and farmers lived in simple wooden huts.
These huts were made of wood, mud, and straw.
They were small and basic, used by farmers and early settlers on hills like the Palatine Hill.
They were found in early Rome, especially on hills and in the countryside
2. Insulae (Apartments)
In cities like Rome, poor people lived in insulae, which were apartment buildings.
These buildings were made of brick or stone and had many floors.
The rich lived on the lower floors, and the poor lived on the higher floors where it was
crowded and unsafe.
They were found in cities like Rome where space was limited.
3. Domus (City Houses)
Wealthy families lived in a domus, a large and fancy house in the city.
It had beautiful rooms, open courtyards (called atriums), and decorated walls.
Domus houses had running water and even small private baths.
They were found in wealthy neighborhoods of cities.
4. Villa (Country Houses)
Rich Romans owned villas, large houses in the countryside.
Villas were surrounded by gardens, farms, and sometimes vineyards.
Wealthy families went there to relax and escape the busy city life.
They were found in the countryside and along the coast.
Ancient Pompeii
1. A Busy City:
Pompeii was a city in ancient Rome, full of houses, shops, and busy streets.
2. Near a Volcano:
It was close to Mount Vesuvius, a big volcano in Italy.
3. A Big Disaster:
In 79 AD, the volcano erupted, covering Pompeii in ash and rocks.
4. Frozen in Time:
The ash preserved buildings, streets, and even people, like a time capsule.
5. Rediscovered Later:
Pompeii was buried for over 1,500 years before people found it again.
6. What We Learned:
Archaeologists studied Pompeii to learn about how ancient Romans lived.
