Roman Empire Essay Example

Roman Empire Essay Example Roman Empire Essay Roman Empire Essay Rome was founded as a kingdom by royal twin-brothers Romulus and Remus in 753 B. C; and the Roman tradition claimed that Rome had been under the control of seven kings from 753 to 509 B. C. According to tradition, Rome became a republic in 509 B. C. (not from the beginning, as it is asserted in the film). By the end of the Republic, Rome becomes the biggest city in the world. In 44 B. C. Augustus establishes the Empire. During the reign of Nero, the Great Fire of Rome took place, but that only gave a new growth to the city. The population of Rome topped out in the 2nd century (over 2 million people) and then began declining. At the end of that century, during the reign of Marcus Aurelius, a plague killed 2,000 people a day2. Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (April 26, 121 – March 17, 180), was given this name when he was proclaimed the Emperor. At marriage he took name Markus Annius Verus; his original name was Marcus Annius Catilius Severus). His mother was from a rich family who were of consular rank; his father was of Spanish origins. His father’s maternal aunt was the Emperor’s wife. In 136, Hadrian had announced that his eventual successor would be a certain Lucius Ceionius Commodus, renamed L. Aelius Caesar. Marcus had already attracted the attention of Hadrian: he was subsequently engaged to Ceionia Fabia, Commodus daughter. The engagement, however, was annulled later after the death of Commodus, as Marcus was betrothed to Antoninus daughter. Therefore, on the death of Hadrians first adopted son L. Aelius Verus, Hadrian made it a precondition of making Antoninus his successor that Antoninus would adopt Marcus and Lucius Ceionius Commodus (Lucius Aelius son, ten years junior than Marcus, renamed Lucius Aurelius Verus), and arrange for them to be next in the line. This Antoninus did, adopting and designating them as his successors on February 25, 138, when Marcus was only seventeen years of age. He would become emperor at 40. In 145, Marcus married Annia Galeria Faustina, who was Antoninus daughter and his paternal cousin. He became Roman Emperor in 161. He was the last of the Five Good Emperors who governed the Roman Empire from 96 to 180, and is also considered one of the most important stoic philosophers. His tenure was marked by wars in Asia against a revitalized Parthian Empire, and with Germanic tribes along the limes Germanicus into Gaul and across the Danube3. Starting from the 160s, Germanic tribes and other nomadic peoples launched raids along the Northern border, particularly into Gaul and across the Danube. This new impetus westwards was probably due to attacks from tribes farther east. A first invasion of the Catti in the province of Germania Superior was repulsed in 162. Far more dangerous was the invasion of 166, when the Marcomanni of Bohemia, clients of the Roman Empire, crossed the Danube together with the Lombards and other German tribes. At the same time, the Iranian Sarmathians attacked between the Danube and the Theiss rivers. Due to the situation in East, a punitive expedition could be launched only in 167. Both Marcus and Verus led the troops. After the death of Verus in 169, Marcus led personally the struggle against the Germans for the great part of his remaining life. The Romans suffered at least two serious defeats by the Quadi and Marcomanni, who could cross the Alps, ravage Opitergium (Oderzo) and besiege Aquileia, the Roman main city of north-east Italy. At the same time the Costoboci, coming from the Carpathian area, invaded Moesia, Macedonia and Greece. After a long struggle, Marcus Aurelius managed to push back the invaders. Numerous Germans settled in frontier regions like Dacia, Pannonia, Germany and Italy itself. This was not a new thing, but this time the numbers of settlers required the creation of two new frontier provinces on the left shore of the Danube, Sarmatia and Marcomannia, including todays Bohemia and Hungary. The emperors plans were however prevented by a revolt in East, led by Avidius Cassius and prompted by false news of the death of Marcus after an illness. Of the eastern provinces, only Cappadocia and Bithynia did not side with the rebels. When it became clear that Marcus Aurelius was still alive, Cassius fortunes declined quickly and he was killed by his troops after only 100 days of power. Together with his wife Faustina, Marcus Aurelius toured the eastern provinces until 173. After a triumph in Rome, the following year he marched again to the Danubian frontier. After a decisive victory in 178, the plan to annex Bohemia seemed poised for success but was abandoned after Marcus Aurelius again fell ill in 180. Marcus Aurelius was able to secure the succession for Commodus, whom he had named Caesar in 166 and made co-emperor in 177, though the choice may have been unknowingly unfortunate. This decision, which put an end to the fortunate series of adoptive emperors, was highly criticized by later historians since Commodus was a political and military outsider, as well as an extreme egotist with neurotic problems. For this reason, Marcus Aurelius death is often held to have been the end of the Pax Romana. It is possible that he chose Commodus simply in the absence of other candidates, or as a result of the fear of succession issues and the possibility of civil war. Marcus Aurelius had 13 children: among them were Commodus and Lucilla. Marcus Aurelius Commudus Antonius, the son of Marcus Aureilus, ruled in 180-192. He was known as a good archer, he also had passion for gladiatorial combat. He even went to the arena, dressed as a gladiator. He always won since his opponents always submitted to the emperor. In 193 Commudus was strangled in his bath by the wrestler Narcissus, ordered by Commodus mistress/cousin Marcia, a day before Commodus planned to march into the Senate dressed as a gladiator to take office as consul. Commodus death marked the end of the Nervan-Antonian dynasty4. The opening battle most likely is intended to depict the last fight of the Macromanic wars. The film says they are fighting in Germania; however, the war was really against Germanic tribes in the area of the province of Pannonia. Of course Germania is more familiar to viewers and works better geographically with Maximus home in Spain. Nearing the end of the battle, Maximus raises the cry Roma Victor, meaning Rome, the Conqueror. (Greco-Roman culture often anthropomorphized aspects of civilization and nature in order to depict them as gods/goddesses to be recognized. ) The sequence of the battles unfurling is not historically accurate, as legionaries abandon formation in favor of a more Hollywood-friendly action scene in which they combat the Germanic Marcomannii in one-on-one battles, in which the barbarians would have excelled. In reality the Romans favored close-knit formations and would not break formation unless being ordered to retreat (hastily) or if the legionaries broke under the strain, in which case, unless able to reform or reach friendly lines, they would almost certainly be wiped out5. IV. Summary evaluation. This film, not being documental, does not directly follow the history of Roman Empire. Many of the facts were specially mutilated for the battle scenes by the script writer in order to make the film more spectacular. Though it refers to real events, it is still just an invention of the director who wishes to entertain public. Despite the historical inaccuracies, it is obvious, that all battle scenes, visual effects, the script, and the live action are simply brilliant. Beyond the doubt, the staginess of this film is on the highest level. Yet it is up to a viewer to decide what he needs more of the film – authenticity or staginess. Bibliography 1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/73rd_Academy_Awards.