When ancient Greece was in its glory, Rome was slowly rising. The Roman Empire gained its power by conquests.   The Roman military activities made Rome rich.  In 287 B.C. Rome started to extend into what is today known as Italy.  The Romans extended east and west to embrace most of  the Mediterranean Sea, and they also expanded southward until they reached Greek settlements.  Every Roman was expected to fight whenever Rome went to war.

    Rome conquered the Italian peninsula and defeated the Greek alliance, then stole everything of value and burned Corinth to the ground. 

    When Rome became a Republic it lasted another 500 years. The Republic was made up of two magistrates, that enforced the law and commanded the army.  They also had the powers that the kings had.  Behind the magistrates there is a senate and two assemblies.   The magistrates also where elected every other year.

   The Etruscans have an important role in the evolution of Rome.  The Etruscans had cities that were not far from Rome. The Romans liked the way they dressed and there life style.  The Romans and the Etruscans became allies.  Tarquin was the last Etruscan king, but he was driven out when Rome became a Republic.

    In 390 BC, the barbarians called the Gauls came down from the north and stole everything of value from a Roman city.  They did not leave until Rome paid a ransom of 1000 pounds of gold.   King Pontous marched on the Romans and reputedly killed 80,000 Italian colonists in one day.  In 241 BC Rome drove out the Carthinigans from Sicily.  Roman inventors came up with a boarding ship.  It would connect a bridge to the other ship and troops would storm across it.  An iron spike at the far end of the corus held the ships together. 

   Hannibal was an enemy Rome fought against.  In 200 BC Hannibal was defeated. The assassination of Julius Caesar resulted in another civil war.