Background Information of the Roman Empire
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The Roman Empire at its peak
Roman Time Lne
  The founding of Rome goes back to the very early days of civilization. It is so old, it is today known as 'the eternal city'. The Romans believed that their city was founded in the year 753 BC. Modern historians though believe it was the year 625 BC.

   At first Rome was ruled by kings.  This went on until the seventh king and Rome witnessed a fhift in power from the monarchs to the general public to form what is known to us today as a republic.
"RES PUBLICA"
The word for this government is fittingly latin.  It come from the words "res publica" (rez pooblica) which means matters of state.  This form of government was a for sure sort of ruling; it lasted from 510 BC until 23 BC - damn near 500 years!  In comparison, the government that the United States of America employ has only been around less than 250 years, and is also loosely based on the Roman form of governing.
American Eagle
During the years of the Roman Republic, the greates threat the government ever facced was thet of the Carthaginians.  Carthage, as you may know was a very powerful city in North Africa. Like Rome, it controlled its own empire.  A long and tedious war was fought between the two world powers by both land and air. 
  One of the moust famous incidents was when the Carthatginian general Hannibal, sent a massive army through the chain of Alps in Italy to get to Rome.  During the crossing, many of the troops froze or starved to death.  The ones who survived marched on towards Italy and attacked fiercely with the help of Hannibal's massive war elephants.  It was a good show but Rome eventually won and Carthage was completely destroyed in 146.
Hannibal and his army
Rome, however, did not last forever.  The Roman Empire was taken over by millions of barbarians from the north eastern section of Europe.  History tells of this happening aleast two and even three tims that huge migrations took place across Europe.  The Barbarians were searching for a new place to settle and eventually Rome's highly trained armies, which were designed to fight other orchestrated armies, could not deal with the mob and were run over.  The legendary story of Rome was finished when finaly Rome itself  was conquered by the Visigoth Odoacer and his men in AD 476.