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After the Trojan War, Aeneas fled to found a new Troy which he eventually did in the Italian Peninsula. This new city, Alba Longa, would be where Rome’s founders are from.
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According to legend, Rome was founded by two brothers, Romulus and Remus. After an argument between the two brothers on the location/ruler (two versions of the legend), Romulus killed Remus and founded Rome (named after him). Rome was settled on the banks of the Tiber river.
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In order to safeguard Rome's future, Romulus and his followers kidnapped women from surrounding areas so Rome's population can grow.
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After being ruled by seven kings, the Romans overthrew the role of the monarch within Roman society and set up a Republican government.
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The first Roman code of law was written on bronze tablets and put on display at the Roman Forum.
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One of the most significant innovations from the Romans was their ability to transport water from distant lands with their use of aqueducts. Some of these aqueducts transported water as far as 60 miles to reach Rome! As the population grew, so did Rome’s demand for water and aqueducts were the answer!
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Rome is famous for their road system, as some are still being used today. The Appian way was one of the first major roads in Ancient Rome. It was mainly used for transporting the Roman Army and its supplies!
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Rome and Carthage both dominated trade in the Mediterranean and the two powers clashed in a series of conflicts known as the Punic Wars. Ultimately, Rome defeated Carthage and Rome rose to the top as the dominant group in the region.
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Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus, Roman Tribunes of the Plebs, led a movement for land reforms and political reforms. One of their reforms was meant to limit the amount of public land one could own from new lands. Needless to say, their proposals were unpopular among the senators and the elite.