Page 53 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

THE HIST OR Y OF IT AL Y  51

Where to See Republican
Era Italy
Republican structures are very rare, most
having been rebuilt under the Empire.
In Rome itself, two notable exceptions are
the 2nd-century BC Temples of the Forum
Boarium (p437). However, the legacy of the
age to modern Italy is not hard to appreciate.
Countless roads, such as the Via Appia Antica
(p445), and towns were planned originally by
Roman engineers. Two striking examples of
Cicero Addresses the Senate towns with original Roman street plans are
State business was debated in Lucca (pp324–5) and Como (pp194–5).
the Senate. The great orator Cicero
• FANUM (106–43 BC) argued for the Republic
FORTUNAE and against tyranny.
Fano
Roman Legionary
This bronze shows a legionary in
standard kit of helmet,
breastplate, leather kilt with iron
plates, greaves on his shins,
and sandals.
CORFINIUM
• The Via
Via Valeria
• TIBUR Appia was These huge basalt blocks at Tharros in Sardinia (p554)
Tivoli extended were part of a Roman road.
from Capua to
Brindisi in 190 BC.
• Roman Roads
CAPUA Via Appia BRUNDISIUM After conquering other tribes, the Romans
Brindisi
TARENTUM • imposed their authority by building roads along
Taranto • which legions could march rapidly to deal with
any trouble. They also built towns. Many, such as
Ariminum (Rimini), were “colonies”, settlements
for Roman citizens – often veteran legionaries.

Sicily became
the first Roman
province in Aerial View
241 BC. of Bologna
Roman street plans
are still visible in
city centres today.
RHEGIUM
• Reggio di Calabria The route of the
old Via Aemilia cuts
straight through the
centre of Bologna.
104 BC Slave 89 BC Social War: Rome’s Italian 31 BC Octavian defeats Mark
revolt in Sicily allies granted citizenship Antony at Battle of Actium
146 BC End of Third Punic 80 BC Building starts on the first 30 BC Suicide of Mark Antony
War; Carthage destroyed Roman amphitheatre, at Pompeii and Cleopatra in Egypt
200 BC 150 BC 100 BC 50 BC
168 BC End of Third 73–71 BC Slave revolt 44 BC Murder of Julius Caesar;
Macedonian War; Romans led by Spartacus end of Roman Republic
now masters of Greece
49 BC Caesar crosses the Rubicon 45 BC Introduction of
Milestone from the Via Aemilia and drives Pompey from Rome 12-month Julian calendar

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