Describe Rome's expansion from a small town to an empire.

The Romans emerged as a small and largely insignificant people in the Italian peninsula around 753 BCE. Romans were also known as Latins, for the language they spoke and the plain where they lived. The city was founded and built on the Tiber River. Rome was ruled as a kingdom during this earlier period, and the limits of its kingdom were confined to a small area of the city of Rome and the surrounding lands. Not much is documented about Rome at this time.

According to Roman tradition, in the year 509 BCE, Rome rebelled against its king and transformed itself into a republic. A republic is a form of government with representatives and not a king. During this period, Rome became a power in the region. Over the next few centuries, the Romans waged a number of wars against other Italian groups on the peninsula, including some Greek city-states. By winning territory from the legendary Greeks, Rome gained respect and power. By the end of the Punic Wars, Rome found itself in control of a vast territory in places around the Mediterranean. Rome's leaders began to claim more power for themselves around 50 BCE, and by 27 BCE the Republic fell, and an empire under control of the leader was established. The empire was also powerful, but faced more challenges. A combination of corrupt leaders, outside attacks, and just too big an empire to control led to the decline of Rome.