Scramblin' thru... All of Rome
[Click picture for a larger version.]
All roads lead to...
Rome was a town along the Tiber River when Athens was at its peak, but its location in the Mediterranean made it an ideal spot to build an empire. Rome's history is three-fold.
Ancient Rome (753-509 BC) was ruled by Etruscan kings. After the death of Romulus, who founded Rome, the position of king was selected by the Senate (from the Latin word senex for "old man"). Two classes of citizens developed: the Patricians (nobles) and the Plebeians (commoners). Good ol' Greek Mythology was ripped off (and changed just enough to avoid getting detention), the calendar we see today began, and Latin formed the basis of the language. Roman Republic (509-27 BC) began when the Etruscan king was ousted. The Senate took control and won three wars against Carthage in North Africa. However, the armies swore loyalty to the generals rather than the state. Because of this, a man named Julius Caesar became dictator. On March 15, 44 BC, he was stabbed 23 times by senators led by Marcus Brutus. Rome plunged into civil war. Roman Empire (27 BC-476 AD) began when the Senate gave Caesar's adopted son Octavian the name Augustus, which meant "the revered one". Caesar (a.k.a. Emperor) Augustus reestablished stability and launched the Pax Romana, Latin for "Roman Peace", that lasted 200 years. At its peak, the empire stretched from England to North Africa and from the Atlantic to Arabia. Germanic invasions and economic decline ended Rome's ability to rule such a large area. · Before it fell, the Roman Empire split into an Eastern and a Western half. The West fell in 476 AD. The East lasted until 1453 AD. 
Rome had the original X-Games. [Click picture for a larger version.]
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According to legend, two brothers (Romulus and Remus) were left near the Tiber River to die. They were saved and raised by a she-wolf. As men, the brothers returned to the spot and founded Rome in 753 BC. When Remus tried to take over, Romulus killed him and became the first king. He gave the kingdom his name... "Rome".
Num num num num...
A republic is a type of government in which the ruler is not a king or queen
and specific citizens can vote. The word is from the Latin res publica, which means "that which belongs to the people". 
Christianity began with the death of Jesus Christ in 29 AD. Persecution continued until 387 AD, when Christianity became Rome's
official religion. Today, Vatican City is home to the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church. 
The phrase "bread and circuses" comes from the policy used by emperors to keep people happy. Gladiator combat in the Colosseum was a perfect diversion from the problems
Romans were facing. 
I'd kill a man for free breadsticks. Seriously.
Caligula and Nero were Rome's worst emperors.
Caligula raped his sisters and killed people while he ate dinner. In 64 AD, Nero caused a fire that destroyed much of Rome. Legend says he played a lyre while Rome burned. 
"Hi, I'm Nero. I have Mommy issues..."
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Impressive... but what have you done for me lately?