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How Far Did Ancient Rome Expand?
According to ancient legend, twin brothers by the names of Romulus and Remus, who were also believed to be demigods (minor deities/offspring of a God), founded Rome in 753 BC on the River Tiber.
With their military strength and an age-old desire to expand, the Romans would grow from a small town of pig farmers to a colossal empire that spanned three continents over the next twelve or so centuries. It would go through three stages: kingdom, republic, and, finally, an empire.
The first major expansion for the Romans took place in 396 BC with the capture of the Etruscan City of Veii. It was nearly a ten-year-long conflict, lasting from 405 BC to 396 BC. The city finally fell to the Romans under the command of their general, Camillus. He ordered his men to dig at the soft, tuff rocks below the city walls while distracting the enemy with simultaneous attacks on their walls and defenses.
Once they were through the soft tuff rock, the Romans penetrated into the city’s drainage system and emerged inside the Citadel. The fate of the city of Veii is disputed.
Classicist Mary Beard claims that the city was allowed to continue operations as before but with the understanding that they were now under Roman control and that the Romans could draft their men into their military force if need be.
On the other hand, some sources say that the Romans were not interested in the city’s surrender but only its destruction and proceeded to murder the entire adult male population and take all women and children captive. With history this old, it is difficult to reach a precise agreement on what went down. But one thing was clear: the conquest of Veii was a big turning point for the Romans. They now possessed a territory that was half the size of the land they already had under their control.
The Romans continued their expansive rampage for the next 2.5 centuries, spreading all over the Italian Peninsula. By 509 BC, Rome had transitioned from a kingdom into a republic after the last Etruscan King who ruled Rome was overthrown.
