Ancient Rome for Kids
- Famous Romans

Facts about Ancient Rome for Kids

• The Roman Empire, at its peak, stretched between Scotland and Turkey


• By around 300AD Rome was the largest city in the world with over a million people.


• Julius Caesar was a successful general who expanded the empire in northern Europe. In 47AD he declared himself dictator of Rome. A few years later he was murdered by his political enemies.


• After the death of Caesar, there was a power struggle between Antony and Octavian. Octavian won, Antony and Cleopatra (Antony's wife, the Egyptian queen) committed suicide.


• Octavian was influenced by his unscrupulous wife Livia. He change his name to Augustus Caesar because he wanted to be associated with Julius Caesar, who was respected and worshipped.


• Later emperors include Nero, Claudius, and Hadrian.


• The story that “Nero fiddled while Rome burned” cannot be true, because the fiddle had not been invented, although he did play the lyre. Nero’s bad reputation may well be based on lies told by his enemies, we cannot be sure.


• Claudius had a stammer and some physical problems, probably the result of brain damage at birth.


• Hadrian's wall in Northern England was over 70 miles long, and still stands today in places. He built other walls at other boundaries of the empire too.


• The Forum was the government district in the centre of Rome. It was a market place surrounded by offices and law courts, and was a popular meeting place.


• Roman men and women wore tunics with loose-fitting robes made of long strips of cloth over the top. A woman might wear a dress called a stola and a thick coat called a palla. a man might wear a cloak called a toga.


• The Romans went to the public baths in order to relax. These huge buildings were more than a place to get clean, they were also fitness centres and places to meet friends.


• The Colosseum in Rome was a huge arena used for gladiator fights and mock sea battles. It could seat 50,000 people and was built of stone, marble, and concrete.


• Romans admired gladiators for their strength, bravery, and skill. However their lives were short - most died fighting in the arena, either against each other, or wild animals such as lions. Most gladiators were either prisoners of war or criminals.


• Some Romans preferred a day at the races. Horses pulled fast chariots round race tracks called "circuses". The most famous was the Circus Maximus in Rome.