25 Stories About The Roman Empire They Didn’t Tell You In School

Do you think you know a lot about the Roman Empire? Sure, you’ve heard of gladiators, emperors, and the Colosseum. Maybe you’ve even quoted, “All roads lead to Rome.” But there’s more than meets the eye. These 25 facts dig into the stranger, lesser-known side of ancient Rome (like inventing concrete).

The Colosseum Was Originally Named The Flavian Amphitheatre

In ancient Rome, the Colosseum was called the Flavian Amphitheatre. Thanks to a giant Emperor Nero statue nearby, it only got the name “Colosseum” later. Asking a Roman for directions using today’s name would confuse them.

The Colosseum Was Small Compared To The Circus Maximus

The Colosseum was huge, but the Circus Maximus was a larger edifice. It could fit up to 250,000 people, more than the biggest stadiums today. That’s where Romans watched intense chariot races on a massive U-shaped track, with fans screaming from every side.

Rome Had Diehard Sports Fans

If you think the fans from your rival club do too much, you’re wrong. Ancient Romans were super into chariot racing, the biggest sport back then. Teams wore colors (red, blue, green, white), and fans were diehards. They cheered, prayed for rival teams to crash, and even wrote curses. It was like NFL fans in NASCAR… but with more drama and sandals.

The Roman Empire Isn’t History’s Largest Empire

Rome sounds massive, but it didn’t rank so high in size compared to others. At its biggest in AD 117, it covered about 1.9 million square miles, smaller than the Mongol, British, Han, or Russian Empires. Even modern countries like the US are bigger.

Rome Wasn’t Always An Empire

For its first 500 years, Rome wasn’t ruled by emperors because it was a republic. People voted (kind of), and leaders were elected. Even the famous Julius Caesar wasn’t an emperor. That title came later with Augustus, Caesar’s great-nephew, after extensive political drama.

Roman Concrete Was Ahead Of Its Time

The Romans built strong engineering marvels using a special concrete mix with volcanic ash. It’s why things like the Pantheon Dome (a temple for the gods) still stand today. It’s not surprising since their concrete got stronger with salt water. Some Roman buildings are nearly 2,000 years old as of now.

The Roman Army Was Massive And Tough

Under Emperor Hadrian, Rome had 450,000 super-trained soldiers, which grew to almost half a million men at its peak. These warriors used clever battle strategies, fought with the best armor and weapons, and could even form a human tank with shields. But they didn’t just fight; they dominated armies 10 times their size.

Ancient Rome May Have Been Classist

Social class was everything back then in Rome. Rome ran on social status, ranking people by ancestry, citizenship, and gender. The order ranged from fancy patricians to enslaved people with zero rights. Citizens got perks like voting and land, while enslaved people could be killed by their masters unless you’re lucky and got free.

Being Emperor Was An Extreme Sport

“Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown” had to be the most factual statement. Want the top job in Rome? Be ready to die trying. About 62% of Roman emperors passed away violently, stabbed, poisoned, suffocated, fell in battle, or were betrayed by their guards. Even gladiators had better survival odds.

There Was A Year Rome Had Four Emperors (AD 69)

The last slide mentioned how hard it was to become and stay Emperor. In just one year, Rome burned through four emperors: Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian. The backstabbing was literal and brutal, as they were betrayed, defeated, or killed until Vespasian managed to hang on and start a new dynasty.

Then Came Five… And Six Emperors

Things got worse after Vespasian. AD 193 had five emperors fighting for control. In AD 238, the Roman state had six I-want-to-rule-Rome candidates. Everything from civil wars and invasions to economic disintegration tore the empire apart. At the height of the crisis, Rome split into three rival states.

Peace Was Possible, Pax Romana (Roman Peace) At Last

After the messy fights and wars, the empire finally tasted peace, which was somewhat worth it. For about 200 years (27 BC–180 AD), Rome enjoyed Pax Romana, or “Roman Peace.” No major wars, booming trade, and solid roads. Life was calm.

Caligula Wanted His Horse In The Senate

It’s easy to understand why Rome had issues. The empire had the most “eccentric” rulers. There was Caligula, who was so unstable that he allegedly tried to make his horse a senator. Then, he also killed people for forgetting his birthday. The Romans eventually had enough and assassinated him after just four years.

Romans Washed Clothes With Pee

Yep, urine. Roman laundries (called fullonicae) used urine to clean clothes because ammonia helped lift dirt. Although this sounds unsanitary, it worked so well. Emperor Vespasian had to tax urine collection to make money off public toilets. He’s credited with saying, “Pecunia non olet” (money does not smell).

There Had Public Baths That Passed Off As Social Hubs

Bathing as a Roman culture started in the 2nd century BC. Before long, Roman baths became the center of social life. People went to wash, chat, read, and chill. Poor or rich, everyone came together to get clean in this combination of modern-day spas, coffee shops, country clubs, and libraries.

Hadrian’s Wall Was Rome’s Giant Border Fence

Remember Hadrian, who commanded almost 400,000 super soldiers? It turns out he was a military genius. He built the Hadrian Wall, 73 miles across northern Britain, to guard the Roman Empire’s edge. Besides being a 14- to 20-foot barrier, it had milecastles, turrets, and forts with about 10,000 soldiers to keep troublemakers away.

Graffiti Was Everywhere

Unlike modern governments, Romans and their rulers loved writing on walls. Graffiti was all over cities like Pompeii, with varying messages, including jokes, poems, and even rude stuff. It wasn’t seen as vandalism, just a way to express thoughts. One Pompeii epigram even mocked how much people wrote on the walls.

Gladiators Had Product Endorsement Deals

Gladiators were the ultimate brand ambassadors! These arena legends had their faces plastered on everything from oil lamps to pottery, proving that celebrity endorsements aren’t just a modern hustle. Wealthy fans even bought their sweat and blood as supposed aphrodisiacs.

Men Ran The Show In Roman Society

Roman men had all the power, so the state was profoundly patriarchal. The father controlled everything, including money, family, and even art. Women were expected to stay quiet and follow orders. Sadly, almost everything we know about their women comes from the quills of men.

Roman Poetry Wasn’t Very Kind, And Actors Weren’t Celebrities

Roman poets like Catullus didn’t hold back with their expressions. Their poems were so filthy and explicit that they were rarely translated! And while actors were famous, they were looked down on. An 18 BC law passed by Emperor Augustus classified them as brothel workers and banned citizens from marrying them.

Some Roman Parents Sold Their Kids

Since dads had full legal control over the family through the ‘patria potestas’ (power of a father), they could exchange kids for gold when things got tough without caring about the other parent. So, yes! Some parents sold their kids into slavery. This practice wasn’t common, but it did happen.

Life Was Brutal And Short In Rome

We’ve established through the ruling emperors that life in Rome was violent. Gladiator fights, battles, and slavery. Brutality was everywhere. And many babies were abandoned if they weren’t wanted. Combined with the violent lifestyle, the low chances of surviving disease and poor healthcare meant most kids didn’t live past 10.

Rome Had Huge Apartment Buildings Plus Recurrent Fires

Most Romans didn’t live in fancy villas. Instead, they packed into tall, rickety buildings called insulae. Here, fires were common and deadly, especially for people on the top floors. That’s why Rome created the vigiles or ‘sparteoli’ (‘little bucket fellows’), which most historians consider the world’s first fire brigades.

No One Agrees When Rome Fell

Rome didn’t fall all at once. After the empire split in the 5th century AD, the western half crumbled in 476 AD. But the eastern side, based in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul), lasted until 1453. Some argue that the real end was in 1806, when the Holy Roman Empire came to an end. So, when did Rome fall? It depends on who you ask.

Many Empires Tried To Be The ‘Next Rome’

Rome was so iconic that later empires copied it. Russian tsars got their name from one of the most famous Roman rulers (‘tsar’ is derived from ‘Caesar’). The Ottomans claimed to be Roman emperors. Even the Holy Roman Empire borrowed the title. You could say that Rome’s inheritance and impact preceded its fall.