1) Rome started as a small city but grew into a massive empire that conquered Italy, Greece, Gaul and battled Carthage. 2) The Romans established a system of laws and order, built extensive aqueducts and roads, and granted greater freedoms to women compared to other societies at the time. 3) Rome transitioned from being ruled by kings, to a Roman Republic with elected magistrates and assemblies, to eventually being ruled by emperors from 493 BC to 180 AD.