EXPANDING THE ROMAN WORLD |
The powerful Roman army defeated one enemy after another.Soldiers were trained in the use of slings, javelins, spears, and swords. These forces were divided into legions, army units that numbered about 6,000 men each. The legions were divided into smaller units that could be moved around swiftly. This freedom of movement usually gave Roman forces an advantage over the massed troops of its enemies.
Rome began to build its empire in Italy. Roman forces battled rivals for control of the peninsula. By 264 B.C., Rome commanded the Italian peninsula. Rome then turned to conquests in North Africa, Spain, Gaul (modern-day France), Greece, and the lands at the eastern ends of the Mediterranean.Rome organized its foreign lands into provinces. Each was headed by a governor who directed tax collections and organized the defense of the province. The new rulers did not try to change local customs, religions, or government. This policy made Roman domination less painful to the conquered people. Each conquered province, however, was expected to help make Rome richer and more powerful. Spain became for Rome a source of wine, fruit, gold, silver, iron, and horses. Gaul produced glass, pottery, wool, wine, and precious metals. In this way, Rome drew on an amazingly varied quantity of raw materials and luxuries. Roman rulers organized the defense of conquered lands. Hadrian’s Wall, built in A.D. 122 to defend against northern invaders, still stands in Britain. What other duties did Roman leaders have?
To bring these treasures home—and to help keep control over the empire—Rome built a remarkable communications network. Roman ships sailed regularly to ports of conquered lands. Goods and people moved by land on new Roman roads. Some of these roads were built so well that they are still in use today. Our nation’s government contains Roman influences. Rome was too big to be governed by direct democracy. Therefore, the Romans built democratic principles into a republic. This meant the people elected representatives to carry out their wishes in the government. Both the Roman republic and Greek democracy were governments of the people.