Get your togas, swords and armour ready- in Roma. The eternal city, Caput Mundi- cap of world. May not be true, Cap Rome/Lazio

Pop 3 Mil, 3000 yrs hist never short of things to see- Legacy Rom Emp all over - not just ruins. SPQR- Senatus Populusque Romanus- Senate and Ppl of Rome, Symb everywhere- drain covers.

Rom/Rem twins, Mars. Abandon Tiber Riv basket. nearby Alba Longa She-wolf Lupa, suckled them, woodpecker fed, found by shep. Twins lived to def king Set out build own city. Bros argued location, Rom built walls Palatine Hil- Remus mocked, Rom killed. Found Rome 753, Roma 1st King. City grew - asylum, fugitives exiles. Rom myst disap storm- became God Quirinus- God of Rom State. A line of Sabine, Latin and Etruscan (earlier Italian civs) kings followed in a non-hereditary succession.

Aeneas, Son Aphro/ Anchises- lead Troy's Army, Trojan War. Fall of Troy. Aeneas fled, led band of refugees to Ital, settled area surround Rome- Found Rom Cult. Ancestor of

Monarchy end 509BC, overthrow 7th K, cruel, tyrannical. Power 2 annually elected Consuls, ruled Rom/army. Elected by Senate. 450BC - Rom Law Code- 12 bronze tabs. 12 tables, displayed Rom Forum. Legal Procedure, Civil/property rights- base for all future law.

Grew pow/size. Gauls sacked/burn 390BC, Roms rebound, gained control entire Ital Pen 264. Punic wars with Carthage, Nth Afr. 3 bloody wars, gained territory inc Carthage. Also spread Est def Macedonia. Milit conqs = grow society, benefit from Greeks. 240 Lit greek-latin, adopt art, philosophy, relig. Greek root of all words. Why fix what aint broke. Rom Infrast. Exp= weight.

Gov crumbles- gap between rich/poor grew. Series warlords dom Rom, by 91BC fighting amongst ranks. backstab. Gov turmoil, Caesar ceased consulship 59BC, led campaign to conq rest reg Rom, sparked civil war, emerged Dictator Rome 45BC.

">yr later- murdered republican nobles Brutus, Gaius Cassuis. 23 back Et tu. Marc Ant, Great Neph Heir Octavian revenge. Div pow in Rome. Oct- West, Ant - East. Tensions 36BC. Cleo, Traitor, overthrew Bat Actium- Suicide. Oct sole leader 29BC- Absolute Pow- change Augustus - 1st Emp.

Pax Romana - 2Cs peace. Social Reforms, won vics, Lit, art, Archt, Relig flourish. Aug ruled 56 yrs, when died - Senate made God. = Trad Deification Pop Emps.

Age Emp: Crazy Ones: Tiberius AD14-37 Ult Dirty old Man. constant orgies, hired young boys- girls frolic "pans /nymphs" kept erotic library, even abused infants, toddlers. Suspicious, treason to kill anyone. Throw ppl off cliffs Capri. He set tone successors.

Caligula AD37-41 Eccentric- Declare war Pois- started war Brit turned into bat with sea, attack waves swords, gather seashells booty. Incest with Sis Julia. Humiliate Senate- made horse Consul. Made enemies - proclaim himself God- Palatine games declared couldn't be killed- Immortal. Turns out he could.

Nero AD 54-68 Rom em love to hate. Murderer - brother Britannicus, married his wife octavia, abandoned for lover Poppeaea- executed fake adultery. Killed own mother, beaten to death. Kicked Popp, fit anger, while reg. Found boy looked Popp, married him- forced dress woman- castrated. Rum - great fire. Persuc christ, inc St Peter. Nero - army revolt, split Rome 3 way civ war.

Commodus (AD 180-92) Emp in Glad movie. Renamed Rome aft himself. Passionate about Glad, fought himself, dressed Hercules- awarded himself divine honours, declare Roman Herc. Bankrupted treasury, executed rich treason- confiscate. Many Assas, foiled, finally strangled Bath.

Also Good Emps: Titus (79-81) recovery efforts Erupt Vesuvius- destroyed Herculaneum, Pompeii. Emp Balanced bet conflict and peace, expanding.

After Commodus killed- civil war, 3rd - 22 Emps, only 2 died nat. Wars- Barb, Armies expensive. Taxes, welfare, Drought/Famine. Diocletian split - west him, east Max. Turmoil - Constant 324 reunite. Moved Cap- greek city Byzant. Renamed. 325 - Christ. Undermined power emp- not godlike. Aft Death split back 2. West failed, East flour. West lost territory 410-450. Fin 476 Germanic Prince Odacer sacked rome -Fall of Rome.

Fall= loss Enlightenment- East. Cath Church gained pow. Empire split into Kingdoms, mixed germanic tribes. Constant wars and conq for Cs. Charlie crowned HRE 800AD. Next 12 Cs main events Papl elections, crowning HRE. 846 saw brief sack Rom- Arabs. Dur Babylonian Captivity 1309-78 - Avig, Rome desolate, econ ruined, constant turmoil. Great Schism 1378-1417 civil wars. Finally Repub 1420 peace began again. started restore city - re-est Papacy.

Before crack on- fun facts break up the blood. Banquets- Binge/purge. Kiss wives- check wine. Wom dyed hair - Goat fat, ashes, Red/Blonde pop. Togas Unique to Rom, freeborn men- status. Women togas- prostit, weren't allow Stolas. Rethink halloween cost. Gladiator costume still good, don't use their medical belief- Cure Epiilespy drink Glad blood. Yet they thought Christians cannibals- eating bread wine, body blood.

Birth of Rein: 1400s saw much Rome rebuilt, imp preserv anc Rom. Popes called artists to city, Pope Sixtus Patron, funded reworks, Sistine Chapel, Ponte Sisto. 1471 found oldest pub art collect, donated sculpt to city. Julius II 16th untold riches, ambitious art projects- glorify Papacy. Influence religious symbols in Rein Art. Baroque Style began 1600s Rom - spread EU. = impress visitors- power. Caravaggio - Frescos. Trevi Ft, St Petes Sq. Opulence of Rome est.

1871 became cap of unified Italy. Still conflict bet Pope/King. not solved till 1929 Lateran Treaty. Gave Pope Sov Vatican.

Fascist March 1922 - Muss came to pow. WWII Rome fell Allies Jun4 1944. Post wars, econ boom, art, intellectual revival.

Today, thriving vibrant city, smashes anc ruins, places worship, rein palazzos, baroque fountains into melody culture. Wander streets - discover family run trattorias, quirky shops, to die for coffee. Feast until full, drink till merry, explore till feet hurt. 3000 yr old heart beat hum.