Nibble
Get started

Lesson 2 of 5

Becoming Empire

The myth of the she-wolf and two boys

Various versions detail the establishment of Rome and the subsequent empire. Let's dwell on the most mystic one.
Imagine a landscape of woods, hills, a river, and two boys — twins Romulus and Remus. The legend says they were the sons of the god Mars. Unfortunately, their grandfather saw them as future rivals, so he ordered to kill the boys. But they survived. How? A she-wolf nursed them.
Start learning
Many other events happened afterward, and the brothers decided to found the city in the same area where they had miraculously survived.
Anonymous author. Romulus and Remus suckling the she-wolf on a riverbank. Circa 1650 — 1675
The brothers, faced with the choice of seven hills, held differing views on where to build their city. This dispute led Romulus to kill Remus and establish himself as the first king of Rome, a city he founded on Palatine Hill.
Ancient Roman historian Livy dated Remus' death and the founding of Rome to April 21, 753 BCE.

Continue reading Becoming Empire with Nibble App

Nibble is an interactive microlearning app. Pick a topic, spend from 3 to 10 minutes, then move on whenever your curiosity does. There are 670+ content pieces across 36 topics, available on iOS, Android, and the web.

Continue reading

More on Roman Empire

  1. Lesson 1 of 5 • Quiz

    How good are you in thinking about the Roman Empire?

  2. Lesson 2 of 5

    Becoming Empire

  3. Lesson 3 of 5

    Romans the Builders

  4. Lesson 4 of 5

    The Legions: first organized military

  5. Lesson 5 of 5

    What killed the Roman Empire

Start learning

Common questions

The usual date is 27 BCE, when the Senate gave Octavian the title Augustus, and he became Rome's first emperor. Historians propose other markers too, including Caesar's appointment as dictator for life in 44 BCE and Octavian's victory at Actium in 31 BCE, because the change was gradual and no single law ended the Republic.

No. Julius Caesar was dictator for life, an office of the Republic, though an unusual one. The confusion comes from the word emperor, which comes from imperator, a Latin term for a victorious general. Caesar's heir, Octavian, later called Augustus, is usually considered the first emperor.

Yes, in the sense of ruling conquered lands. Rome had built an empire of provinces well before Julius Caesar was born, and the Latin word imperium referred to Rome's conquered territories. What changed under Augustus was the government at the top: one ruler held real power behind the Republic's old offices.

Not exactly. Augustus preferred the title princeps, meaning "first citizen," and retained many Republican offices and traditions. In practice, he alone held ultimate power in a system called the principate. Later emperors made their role more open, with their image on coins and links to the gods.

Start learning