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Roman state existed for nearly thirteen centuries, repeatedly exerting a profound influence on the course of history. I present the history of ancient Rome in the individual articles below, which not always refer solely to the Eternal City itself but encompass the wider world of the Roman Empire.
I encourage you to submit your own articles and to report any corrections or factual inaccuracies.
The term “last Roman” was most often used in history to describe the commander in the last significant battle won in the history of the Roman Empire, in the Catalaunian fields in 451 CE – Flavius Aetius.
Today, business travel is standard all over the world. A multitude of means of transport, a wide range of accommodations and other facilities, such as telecommunications, make travelling for business purposes quick, comfortable and safe. And what were such issues like in the vast Roman Empire? The answer comes from the detailed, and therefore extremely valuable, journals and letters of a certain official who meticulously recorded his travels.
Greeks taught the Romans not only philosophy but also feasting. Greek symposiums were imitated by Roman elites, and the tables were simply laden with dishes, the splendour of which can be seen, for example, thanks to the preserved cookbook of Apicius.
The army was the most important element of Roman territorial expansion. Today we commonly associate it mainly with great discipline and organization. In the first centuries of the republic, however, it was not a professional force. It consisted mainly of Roman citizens who were drafted into the army when needed. Moreover, the Roman state did not provide the soldiers with weapons, the funds to purchase them or a pay. Consequently, not every citizen was able to provide himself with proper equipment, which significantly reduced his combat value and, consequently, his social status.
In peacetime, citizens were demobilized and returned to work, mainly on their farms. However, this system eventually stopped functioning. This was caused, among other things, by the rapid expansion of the Roman state. At the time, wars were fought almost continuously, which made it impossible for soldiers to fulfill their family and professional duties. Over time, the Roman army became increasingly professional, and soldiers began to demand fair compensation for their arduous service. Land grants became a particularly popular form of payment.
This not only provided soldiers with a steady livelihood after many years of war but also helped rebuild the agricultural economy, which had been
