{"id":9240,"date":"2023-11-21T00:45:13","date_gmt":"2023-11-20T23:45:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/?p=9240"},"modified":"2023-11-21T00:45:13","modified_gmt":"2023-11-20T23:45:13","slug":"what-was-the-population-and-square-miles-of-ancient-rome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/what-was-the-population-and-square-miles-of-ancient-rome\/","title":{"rendered":"What Was The Population And Square Miles Of Ancient Rome"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nThe ancient city of Rome has been a part of history since it was founded in 753 BC. At that time, it was not the grand metropolis that it is today; its population was in the low thousands. Since then, the city has seen many population changes. From its initial settlers, to its conquest and fall to various empires, to its revival as a modern capital city, Rome has a long-proven history and has seen many population and geographical changes along the way.
\nIn the ancient times, Rome was a small-scale city, with estimates of population ranging from 100,000 to 250,000 in the 1st Century BC. The total size of ancient Rome was also much smaller. It has been estimated that the approximate area under the city’s control was about 660 square kilometers.
\nThe Roman civilization rose to become one of the most prosperous and influential empires in the ancient world. Rome reached a population peak of around one million at the height of its power. This was made possible by the vast territory the Romans conquered and brought under their control. People from all over the world migrated to Rome, bringing with them new cultures and religions which further enriched the city’s character.
\nAs Rome grew in size, power and prosperity, its buildings and monuments became larger and grander. We can still see much of this ancient grandeur manifested in Rome’s architecture today. The Pantheon and the Colosseum are just two of the structures which stand as a testament to the Romans’ architectural achievements.
\nThe population of Rome decreased during the decline of the Roman Empire. By the 4th century AD, its population had been reduced to around 20,000. This low population meant that the size of the city also decreased, with estimates ranging from 140 to 300 square kilometers.
\nThe city of Rome was revitalized in the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance. This period saw its population increase to levels not seen since the height of the Roman Empire. The city had an estimated population of 200,000 by the mid-16th century and its size had increased significantly to just over 370 square kilometers.
\nRome transformed itself into a modern city from the 18th century onward. Urbanization drastically increased its population and size. By the modern era, Rome became one of the largest cities in Europe, with a population of about three million and an area of about 1,285 square kilometers.\n

Trade in Ancient Rome<\/h2>\n

Most of the goods that were necessary for life in ancient Rome were purchased through trade. The Romans traded both locally and on a more international scale. To protect its trading interests, ancient Rome sent its legions across the sea to places what we would now call Britain and Spain. These legions carried goods and coins as payment for goods in exchange. It was not uncommon for Roman legions to transport goods such as grain and fruit over long distances.
\nThe trade of goods was not the only form of commerce in Ancient Rome. Services such as banking and construction were also offered. The banking system was very well organized and widely used. In addition, money lending was a very common activity and moneylenders could be found all over Rome.
\nFor the transport of goods, the ancient Romans had a number of roads leading to major trading cities. The roads were mostly built using stone and were very well maintained. There were also several rivers which served as major transport routes for the transportation of goods. Ships, carts, and even animals were used for transporting goods on the rivers.<\/p>\n

Language in Ancient Rome <\/h2>\n

The language of Ancient Rome was Latin. Latin was spoken by all citizens of Rome, from the wealthy and educated to the poorest and most illiterate. Latin evolved from an assortment of languages spoken by the diverse peoples of Rome’s ancient territories. Over time, Latin became the common language and the predominant language of the Roman Empire.
\nThroughout its existence, Latin has served functional, political, and popular roles. It was the language of law, politics, religion, science, poetry and literature. Latin enabled the spread of Roman culture, trade and technology to the far reaches of the ancient Mediterranean world.
\nHowever, Latin was not the only language spoken in Ancient Rome. The languages of conquered and incorporated peoples were also spoken. For example, in the eastern parts of the empire, the lingua franca was Greek. Hebrew, Aramaic, and Egyptian were also spoken.<\/p>\n

Religion in Ancient Rome <\/h2>\n

Roman religion was a combination of various beliefs and practices which changed over time. The early Romans followed an animistic religion that was specific to their individual villages and did not follow a unified pantheon as we understand it today.
\nFrom around the 6th century BC, Rome began to incorporate foreign gods and goddesses and adopted the pantheon of the Ancient Greeks. As Rome gained power, they absorbed and integrated the gods of the various cultures they conquered.
\nThe Romans believed that the gods and goddesses had to be worshipped and appeased in order to ensure their good will and the blessings of heaven. The Roman religion focused on rituals, offerings, ceremonies and festivals to honour the gods and goddesses.<\/p>\n

Government in Ancient Rome <\/h2>\n

Ancient Rome was an authoritarian and monarchy for most of its existence. Rome was initially founded as a monarchy, with a king and a senate. This system was overthrown in 509 BC and replaced with a republican form of government.
\nThe republican government was divided into two branches, the senate and the non-senatorial nobles. The senate was composed of patricians, the non-senatorial nobles were composed of plebeians. The senate had the power to make laws and the non-senatorial nobles had the power to approve or veto the laws.
\nThe Roman government also had a number of magistrates, or officials, with different levels of authority. The most powerful were the consuls, two annually elected officials who were responsible for leading the government and the army.
\nThe Roman military was an important part of the government. It was composed of citizens who could serve up to 16 years before returning to civilian life. The military was responsible for protecting Rome and its citizens and was used to expand the empire and conquer new territory.<\/p>\n

Technology in Ancient Rome <\/h2>\n