Rome became the most powerful empire in the Mediterranean for numerous reasons. The most significant advantage was Rome's location. The location allowed them to be involved in trade around the sea and build a stable economy, as well as being successful in farming and ranching. Another reason for their success was the system of government that began as a democracy. Unfortunately, democracy did not last and thus this same factor was the major contributor to the failure of the great empire. Constant warfare and victory expanded the territory and established the power of the Romans. The Roman Empire gained control over the centuries by exploiting all its advantages, but was brought down by the abuse of its system of government. The greatest advantage of the Romans' success was the location of their foundation. Italy is divided into the eastern and western sides by the Apennine mountains, which have the advantage of being less rocky than the Greek ones and therefore did not divide people into isolated communities, but united them. The land in Italy was ideal for agriculture and for this reason could support a greater number of agriculture-based people. Latium, on which Rome was located, had access to the sea, yet was far enough away to provide safety from pirates and invasions. Furthermore, Rome was easily defensible thanks to the location of the seven hills. Italy's neighbors have made a great contribution to its development. Etruria, was one of the closest neighboring countries, was populated by Greeks who arrived during the colonization in 750-550 BC. They refined the olives and grapes, provided their alphabet and brought their culture and religion during the invasion of the Romans. The Etruscans were not the only ones conquered by the Romans. There were other Greek colonies in the southern and northern parts of Italy that allied themselves. The Romans acted diplomatically with neighbors they defeated, founding colonies and building roads to connect settlements. The Romans began their government as a democracy, fearful of having a dictator or monogamous ruler. Each year they chose two consuls who administered the government and led the army in war. As the territory expanded they had to add a government official to their Senate, originally composed of three hundred elderly patricians. One of the major internal conflicts that the Romans fought... middle of paper... the rich took over all the products leaving very little for the poor or for trade. The Empire was no longer expanding, it was slowly falling apart. The Roman Empire was at that time the largest and most powerful in the Mediterranean. The Romans had great advantages from the location of their residence, diplomatic attitudes and the right war strategies. However they had problems with the government establishment. They discriminated against the plebeians who at first helped to obtain lands in exchange for the promise of granting more rights to the plebeians. Eventually, when democracy was established, wealthy aristocrats took control of the land of Rome and used it only for their own benefit. Later Caesar arrived and put an end to a democratic initiation. Monogamous power led to the fall of the Roman Empire. I think the Caesars were not the only option for the Romans. He could still have had power if there was a democracy. Not the kind of democracy they had, where the rich had everything or the power, but the kind of democracy that exists in the United States. If they had divided power between rich and poor, their empire would have lasted for centuries to come.