The people, places and events that have shaped our history and culture
In 616 BC, Lucius Tarquinius Priscus began his reign as the fifth king of Rome. He was the first king of the Etruscan dynasty and regarded as a good ruler, expanding Rome and laying the foundations for the Temple of Jupiter. He was followed by Servius Tullius, another good Etruscan king who advanced Rome’s defences, [...]
Rome was situated in Latium, on a navigable river at an important crossroads between the Etruscans and the new Greek cities in southern Italy. Paul Roberts neatly summarises Rome as being founded by Trojans, ruled by Etruscans and peopled by Latins. Outcasts, the Romans welcomed all men to join them. But critically, the community lacked [...]
According to the ancient Roman writer Virgil (building on the earlier works of Pictor), Romulus and Remus are born to the Vestal Virgin Rhea Silva. In mythical circumstances she is raped by the god Mars producing the famed twins. The twins’ uncle Amulius, seeking to become the sole King of Alba Longa, steals the baby [...]
Excerpt from The History Lover's Guide to Ancient Rome. The earliest Mediterranean civilisation is believed to be the Minoans, centred on the island of Crete and revealed to us through the archaeology of Arthur Evans in the early 1900s. The Minoans flourished in the Bronze Age, exhibiting a developed culture, fine architecture, vibrant art plus [...]
Excerpt from The History Lover's Guide to Ancient Rome by Callum Moy First arrivals Around two million years ago, the Homo genus started the long process of expansion out of Africa, fanning north and east, settling first in Asia then Europe and evolving into Homo Sapiens (modern humans) some 300,000 years ago. It is believed [...]