Rome became the most powerful empire of the Mediterranean for numerous reasons. The most significant advantage was the location where Rome resides. The location allowed them to become involved in the trade around the sea and build a stable economy, as well as succeed at agriculture and farming. Another reason for their success was the government system which started out as a democracy. Unfortunately, democracy didn’t last and therefore this same factor was the major contribute to the failure of the great empire. Constant warfare and victory expanded the territory and established the power of Romans.
The Roman Empire gained control over the centuries using all of its advantages, however was brought down by the misuse of its government system. The biggest advantage of Romans success was the location of their establishment. Italy is divided into eastern and western sides by Apennines mountains, which to the advantage are less rocky than the ones in Greece and therefore didn’t divide people into isolated communities, instead brought them together. The land in Italy was ideal for farming and for that reason it could support larger number of people based on the agriculture.
Latium, on which Rome was located had access to the Sea and yet it was far enough bringing safety from pirates and invasions. Also, Rome was easily defended due to the locations of the seven hills. The neighbors of Italy were a large contribution to its development. Etruria, was one of the closest neighbors was populated with Greeks who arrived during the colonization in 750-550 B. C. E.. They refined olives and grapes, provided their alphabet and brought their culture and religion during the invasion of Romans. Etruscans were not the only ones conquered by Romans.
There were other Greek colonies in the southern and northern part of Italy who were made as allies. Romans acted in a diplomatic way with the neighbors they defeated, establishing colonies and building roads to connect the settlements. Romans started out their government as a democracy, in fear of having a dictator, or a monogamous ruler. Annually they chose two consuls who administered the government and led army into war. As the territory expanded they had to add on a government official to their Senate which originally consisted of three hundred elder patricians.
One of the major internal conflicts Romans struggled over was the division between citizens. Patricians were the wealthy landowners who were a part of aristocrat governing class. Plebians on the other hand were a larger group who consisted of nonpatrican landowners, artisans, merchants and small farmers. They didn’t have the same rights as patricians, instead they were discriminated against. Plebians were the ones who served in the army, as a result they used their fighting power to get Senate to pass laws in their favor.
As the Romans wanted to conquer another neighbor, plebians bribed senate to establish their own government officials for fighting for Romans. The struggle for plebians’ rights dragged for hundreds of years when finally they were permitted to become a part of the administration. Gaining power over Carthage was a big improvement for the Roman Empire. Carthage at the time was a powerful empire over the northern Mediterranean. It consisted of northern Africa, Southern Spain, Sardinia, Corsica and western Sicily. It was founded by Phoenicians and over time developed the largest trade industry in the Mediterranean.
The two powers began struggle of control 264 B. C. E.. During the first Punic War, Romans conquered Sicily defeating the navy of Carthage. Also, Romans got an idea of how to make ships from Carthagenian navy, and developed their own naval fleet. During the second Punic War, Romans encouraged one of Carthage’s allies, Spain, to go against Carthage, and because of that one of their greatest generals Hannibal pulled back his troops. Hannibal crossed over the Alps with a thirty to forty thousand men army and six thousand horses and elephants.
He defeated the first of Roman Empire on his way, using the men power and the elephants to scare people. Romans, however did not give up and soon raised an army to gain back their lost land. In addition, Romans sent their troops to Spain and freed them from Carthage. The third Punic War led Romans to final success. They defeated Carthage as well as other Hellenistic eastern states in the Mediterranean, gaining the final power and becoming the superiors in the area. The changing government was the main cause to the fall of Roman Republic. Senate became the only effecting branch of the state over third and second centuries.
They controlled foreign, domestic and financial affairs. Small farmers lost their land to Aristocrats who were a tiny minority of the Romans. Aristocrats ended up taking over the whole land and using it for slave labor. As the gap between wealthy and poor grew larger, the numbers of farmers and military soldiers decreased significantly. Three individuals came to hold all of the governing power, Crassus, Pompey and Julius Caesar. Not long after, Caesar ended up in full control after death of Crassus and the defeat of Pompey and his allies.
Officially, Caesar Julius was announced a dictator 47 B. C. E.. He made some changes in the falling economic system by giving land to the poor and increasing the members of senate to nine hundred people which in reverse weakened senate’s power. He didn’t finish his reform however, because two senators assassinated him, Octavian and Antony. They took over the government and ended up turning against each other. Antony committed suicide when he was defeated by Greece in one of the battles, so the throne of government was left to Octavian. In his time he also made contributions to raising the state.
He gave power back to the senate, established a uniform government policy, conquered the remaining Alps and expanded Roman control of the Balkan land. His power of army wasn’t unlimited as he came to know during his loss in the battle to Germany. When Octavian died in the 14 C. E. his new order of government was too established to be changed, and for the next centuries the Roman Empire was lead by Caesars. The economy there after was unsuccessful. The agricultural development was slowed down due to the large gap between the classes of very rich and very poor.
There was no surplus in farming and most of the time the rich got a hold of all of the products leaving very little for the poor or trade. The Empire wasn’t expanding any longer, it was slowly falling apart. The Roman Empire was the greatest and most powerful in the Mediterranean during its time. Romans had great advantages of the location of their residence, diplomatic attitudes and the right strategies in warfare. However they had struggles with the government establishment. They discriminated against plebians which at first helped in gaining land in return to promises of granting more rights to the plebians.
Finally when democracy was established, the rich Aristocrats took over the land of Rome and used it only to their advantage. Thereafter, Caesars came along, and put an end to a democratic initiation. Monogamous power lead to the fall of Roman Empire. I think that Caesars were not the only option for Romans. It could have still had the power if a democracy existed. Not the kind of democracy they had, where the rich had all or the power, but the kind of democracy that exists in the United States. If they had divided the power between the rich and the poor, their Empire would have lasted for centuries to come.
