Archaeological News
October 31, 2004
Some interesting new regarding the Roman Empire
Forest Excuse 'pure Roman Spin'
Sea Damaging Roman Burial Site
Excavation Of Ancient Roman Fort
Foil Reveals Roman Magic
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Caesar in Rome
October 30, 2004
Caesar in Rome
After Caesar’s victory at Zela over the Pontic King Pharnaces, Caesar sailed for Italy, arriving in September of 47 BC. With little time left in his dictatorship, first given to him either just before or just after his arrival in Egypt, Caesar had a lot of work to do. Citizens in Rome and Italy were suffering terribly under massive debt and the population was on the brink of violence at any given time. Marc Antony, sent by Caesar as his Master of Horse to govern Rome in his absence, did little to relieve the situation, and conditions were nearly desperate by the time of Caesar’s arrival....
Varro and Vegetius
October 29, 2004
Two more entries have been updated in the Roman Writers section:
Varro
Vegetius
Veni Vidi Vici
October 28, 2004
Veni Vidi Vici
When Pompey and the Senate fled Rome from Caesar in 49 BC, he did so without an army. As a result, he was forced to draw upon the eastern provinces and allied client states for recruits and supply. With garrisons and massive levies being shipped off to Greece to Pompey’s camp, the east was left dangerously vulnerable. Pharnaces II, king of Pontus, and son of the great Roman enemy Mithridates VI, used the Roman civil war to his advantage. He began a systematic process of re-taking those lands which once belonged to his father’s kingdom, and Rome or its allies could do little to stop it...
Roman Book Glossary
October 27, 2004
In addition to our Roman Books List, which includes sections for fiction, non-fiction, movies and games related to the Roman Empire, we've decided to add another feature. The Roman Books Glossary is a short but growing library of various books in alphabetic order. There are literally thousands of Roman related titles and over time, we hope by some small miracle of Caesar's luck, that we'll get to them all.
Caesar in Egypt
October 26, 2004
Caesar in Egypt
After Caesar met with Cleopatra and detained her brother, the young King Ptolemy XIII, Ptolemy’s regent Pothinus colluded with the Egyptian general Achillas to expel Caesar. Achillas and 20,000 men marched on Alexandria where Caesar waited with only 4,000 men. Caesar had little choice but to secure what he could and prepare for a siege.
Roman Timeline 5th Century AD
October 25, 2004
The Roman Timeline 5th Century AD follows the final decline of the Roman state. From the invasions of the Visigoths, to the Vandals and Huns, with brief moments of respite under Stilicho and Aetius, the 5th century spelled the end of the west. The western empire ended finally in 476 AD when the Germanic Odoacer was proclaimed King, and the puppet Emperor Romulus Augustulus was deposed.
Cleopatra
October 23, 2004
...Cleopatra VII was born to King Ptolemy XII Auletes (the flute player) in 69 BC. The third daughter, she would ordinarily have not expected to rise to a prominent role, but intrigue and continuing internal conflict eventually thrust her onto the center stage of world politics. Though the reign of the Ptolemies had continually declined since the founding of the dynasty under Ptolemy I after the death of Alexander the Great, Egypt was still an immensely wealthy and regionally powerful state. The dynastic struggles that persisted over those 3 centuries weakened the state, and the rise of Rome brought the Republican into direct involvement in Egyptian affairs....
Strabo, Suetonius, Tertullian
October 22, 2004
Three more entries have been added to the Roman Writers section.
Strabo
Suetonius
Tertullian
Battle of Pharsalus
October 21, 2004
Battle of Pharsalus
After his defeat at Dyrrhachium in July of 48 BC, Caesar moved swiftly into Thessaly, incorporating the towns of the region under his control. His exhausted and poorly supplied army was able to secure new sources of food and essentially become re-energized for the continuing campaign. After Dyrrhachium, Pompey and the Senators squabbled over the next course of action, and they pressed Pompey hard to finish Caesar as quickly as possible....
Archaeological News
October 20, 2004
Some interesting new regarding the Roman Empire
The Passing Of Historian Michael Grant
Entire Iron Age Village Discovered
Iron Age Horse Burial Unearthed
Many Mummies And Artifacts Discovered
Roman Remains Preserved In Clay
Roman Comet 5,000 Times More Powerful Than A-bomb
Carlisle Hailed ‘one Of Top Roman Dig Sites’
Battle of Dyrrhachium
October 19, 2004
Battle of Dyrrhachium
In late 49 BC, Caesar and his 12 legions arrived at Brundisium where he hoped to secure passage to Greece. An old rival, Bibulus, controlled the Ionium Sea with the Republican navy, and Caesar fretted over when and how to make a crossing. By January of 48 BC, Caesar decided there was no time like the present and decided to make a surprise winter crossing, to offset the advantage that the enemy maintained in naval superiority.
Roman Timeline 4th Century AD
October 18, 2004
The Roman Timeline of the 4th Century AD marks the emergence of the Constantinian Dynasty, the transfer of power to Byzantium and the beginning of Christian domination of Roman religion. As the century comes to a close, internal strife and the continuing presence of Germanic migrations begins to sound the final bell on Roman domination of western Europe.
Caesar in Spain
October 17, 2004
Caesar in Spain
Caesar left Rome for Spain in the spring of 49 BC, to secure the province and to defeat Pompey’s 7 legions that were under the command of Marcus Petreius, Lucius Afranius, and Marcus Varro. Marching around the coast of Narbonensis, however, Caesar was stopped at the city of Massilia, where the well fortified town had been bribed into supporting Pompey.
Galatia
October 16, 2004
The territory in modern central Turkey known as Galatia was an oddity in the eastern world. It was originally home of the ancient civilization of the Hittites, but came to be occupied by Gallic Celts in the 3rd century BC, hence Galatia, or “Gallia of the East.” The Gauls had migrated east and south during the reign of Alexander the Great in the late 4th century BC, but he held them off and pushed them back towards the Danube. A couple of generation later, around 280 BC, the Gauls were on the move again, first settling in Thracia and then continuing south into Macedonia and Greece.
Caesar's Civil War
October 15, 2004
Caesar's Civil War
When Caesar crossed the Rubicon the Senate finally realized that they had made a terrible mistake. The mistake wasn’t in letting the situation get that far, but in that they believed the Roman and Italian people would rally to defend the Republican system. What they failed to understand was that the people had little trust in the Senate and that Caesar had won them over through his popular agenda while in political office. Caesar’s great propaganda campaign, his books “Bellum Gallicum (the Gallic Wars)” endeared the people even more to their almost mythical hero, and the Senate’s cause in Italy was lost. Unable to levy armies, or develop a meaningful resistance, the Senate, and Pompey had little choice but to take their business out of Rome and into Greece. It was here, and further east, where Pompey held considerable sway, where the Senate hoped to raise armies and defeat Caesar...
Italia
October 14, 2004
Italia, being the home of the city of Rome itself, was of course the first step towards establishing Rome as a Mediterranean power. Long after the Etruscan Kings had been thrown out of Rome and the Republic was established, the Roman people would inevitable come into conflict with their immediate neighbors. The conquest, and assimilation of the Italian tribes, was the vital building block that would eventually establish Roman hegemony throughout the western world.
Crossing the Rubicon
October 13, 2004
Crossing the Rubicon
After Caesar spent 51 BC and the better part of 50 BC touring his newly conquered province of Gaul, political chaos was developing back in Rome. The optimates despised Caesar and his conquests and looked for every opportunity to strip him of his command. These conquests not only brought in a great number of slaves, but brought so much monetary wealth into Rome, that the value of gold was actually reduced by as much as ¼ or even 1/3 of its value before the wars. Though the common people noticed little effect, and loved Caesar, the optimates had a great deal to lose from this devaluation of their wealth. That was only one small piece of the puzzle, however. Caesar’s original Consulship in 59 BC was one in which he not only thwarted optimate interests but pushed forward a populares agenda that made life miserable for the conservative Senate...
Roman Writers
October 12, 2004
Three more entries have been updated in our Roman Writers section...
Quintilian
Sallust
Seneca
Mopping Up in Gaul
October 11, 2004
Mopping Up in Gaul
After the battle of Alesia and the subsequent surrender of Vercingetorix, little changed in Gaul for Caesar save for one important circumstance. A great number of tribes remained in revolt, but there was no longer a coalition of tribes working together against the Roman presence. Caesar now had the luxury of dealing with these Gallic tribes on an individual basis.
Map of Sardinia
October 10, 2004
The new enhanced Sardinia Map page shows the exact location of the province as it relates to the empire as a whole. One more click will take you to the expanded and detailed Map of Sardinia. We hope you enjoy the new map. The new province maps won't be available for sale in printed form for the time being. Demand for specific maps likely won't justify the expensive printing costs, but in the future we may package them as a complete set available on CD. Regardless, keep watching for more map additions.
Additionally, we issued the second edition of our Roman History Newsletter. Sign up to keep up to date on the latest additions on UNRV.com and in the world of Roman Archaeology. If you missed it, no worries, all our newsletters will be available in the archive.
Siege of Alesia
October 09, 2004
The Siege of Alesia, Caesar's double-walled circumvallation of Vercingetorix and his Gallic army, was one of the most brilliant and spectacular tactics in the history of warfare. Caesar's victory at Alesia essentially guaranteed total victory in Gaul, and the subjegation of the people for the remainder of the Roman empire.
Archaeological News
October 08, 2004
Some interesting new regarding the Roman Empire
Experts Bridge Gap In Roman Dig
Roman Ornament For Horses Found
New Discoveries In Qumran
Jewish Millionaire Who Surrendered To The Romans
Roman Goddess Of Love Found In German Canal
Battle of Gergovia
October 07, 2004
After taking Avaricum and supplying his legions with badly needed sustenance, Caesar began to move against the main body of Gallic resistance. In the early summer Labienus was sent with 4 legions against the Senones and Parisii, and Caesar pursued Vercingetorix with the 6 remaining legions accompanied by Aedui auxilia and Germanic cavalry. Following the Allier River, Vercingetorix marched ahead of the Roman host, destroying bridges as they went to delay the pursuit. Near the hill fort of Gergovia, with favorable ground for a defensive stand, Vercingetorix stopped and prepared to meet Caesar...
Roman Slavery
October 06, 2004
Roman Slavery was an important part of the ancient world, and it was an integral piece of daily life and the economy. Though slavery was practiced all over the Mediterranean, and was abundant in the east, its impact in other places was not felt nearly as much as it was in Rome and her Empire. As the Romans consolidated their position on the Italian peninsula and began the systematic conquest of the Mediterranean region, millions of slaves were incorporated into Rome and the Italian countryside.
Vercingetorix
October 05, 2004
As a result of the Revolt in Gaul, one Gallic chieftan stepped into the forefront of unified resistance to Caesar. Vercingetorix was a young Arverni chieftan who brought the revolt under the command of a single leader, effectively making him the first, and last, King of Gaul.
Judaea - Palaestina
October 04, 2004
Roman influence in the near eastern provinces of Judaea and Syria Palaestina first came to major fruition with the conquests of Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus (Pompey the Great). In 64 BC, the Jews had maintained nearly 2 centuries of independent rule from various eastern nations, but internal struggles and succession issues after the death of King Alexander Jannaeus threatened the stability. His sons, Hyrcanus and Aristobulus, as well as other political and religious factions, all vied for the Judean crown, and they eventually sought mediation from the great Roman conqueror Pompey...
Revolt in Gaul
October 03, 2004
Revolt in Gaul
As Caesar returned from his second expedition to Britain in 54 BC, there was already trouble looming in Gaul and in his personal life. He received word that his daughter Julia, wife of Pompey had died in childbirth. This event was assuredly difficult for Caesar on a personal level, but it carried monumental political ramifications as well. While Julia lived Pompey remained at least partially allied to Caesar, but with her death, he drifted ever closer to Caesar’s enemies, the boni. Caesar attempted to confirm the alliance by offering his grandniece Octavia as a new bride to Pompey, while also offering to divorce his own wife and marry Pompey’s daughter. Pompey’s refusal, though an indication of his own personal grief, was also a clear signal that the triumvirate was slowly breaking apart. With the death of Crassus at Carrhae two years later, the coming civil war seemed inevitable. Shortly after word of Julia’s death, Caesar also received the news of the death of his mother Aurelia. With the Gallic revolt on the horizon, and the recent tragic news, 54 BC was shaping into a terrible year for Caesar...
Cyrenaica
October 02, 2004
The North African territory of Cyrenaica, now encompassing modern Libya, was likely originally settled by Berber tribes. The Greeks began to colonize the area in the 7th century BC, establishing cities such as Cyrene which became a bastion of Hellenized culture on the African continent. Phoenicians began to influence Cyrenaica shortly thereafter, through trade and colonization of their own, and the Carthaginians maintained considerable influence prior to Alexander....
Battle of Carrhae
October 01, 2004
Battle of Carrhae
After receiving word from his scouts about the presence of a Parthian army near Carrhae in 53 BC, Crassus seems to have panicked. His troops were exhausted and poorly prepared for battle after a long and fast march through the Mesopotamian desert. He didn’t allow his men to rest or make camp, but instead began to form lines for battle. Advised by his officer staff to stretch out in classic formation with the infantry flanked by cavalry, Crassus instead ordered hollow square formations to allow defense against flanking. He commanded the middle while his son Publius and another officer, Cassius, commanded the wings. They advanced toward the smaller and less impressive Parthian force far too confident...