Romans?

[Zac Smith]

My dad asked me this question and I though it was quite strange so i'll put it here.

My dad said "Why are Romans called Romans and not Italians, they weren't all from Rome were they?"

Any ideas...knowing my luck theres probably a completely normal explanation!

 

[Gabanuka]

Rome was the center of their empire and ment a hell of alot to them. I'm quessing thats why.

 

[Daveman]

Because the empire was centered around Rome, and before that and after that it was just a bunch of loose nations, it wasn't Italy until later I think.

 

[ultrachicken]

Rome was the center of their empire and ment a hell of alot to them. I'm quessing thats why.

Thread over.

 

[XJ-0461]

Rome was the centre of their empire, and from their they granted citizenship, to places such as Gaul (modern day France). So they're "Roman citizens" rather than just "Romans" but people just shorten it.

That's my idea anyway.

 

[Larkin99]

Italy did not exist as a country until the late 19th Century (I think). Before that it was just a collection of city states. Rome was the most powerful city state at the time and was where the emperors ruled from, so it became the Roman Empire.

EDIT: Ninja'd...

 

[Pimppeter2]

The same reason we call Spartans, Spartans


Italy did not exist as a country.

 

[tofulove]

My dad asked me this question and I though it was quite strange so i'll put it here.

My dad said "Why are Romans called Romans and not Italians, they weren't all from Rome were they?"

Any ideas...knowing my luck theres probably a completely normal explanation!

Rome started as a city state in Italy. than they slowly took over southern Italy and most of northern Italy. they they got into a little conflict with Carthage, and end of that owned most of the islands of western Mediterranean. parts of northern Africa. and most of the Iberian peninsula. after that they took over most of the eastern Mediterranean. than Gaul. moved into Germanic territory. had a civil war. had a civil war, had a civil war, split into 2 empires, western empire fell eastern became known as Byzantine. than was taken over by the Turks.

but going back to that, it all started with one city named Rome.

 

[Ubermetalhed]

Because the empire was centered around Rome, and before that and after that it was just a bunch of loose nations, it wasn't Italy until later I think.

Correct. Italy didn't exist as a unified state until 1861 and hence there was no such thing as 'Italians'.

 

[Ironic Pirate]

Since the thread seems to have been answered, I would like to borrow it, if only for a bit.

What is your favorite ancient civilisation, and why?

 

[HK_01]

Because Rome was originally a city state that eventually conquered Italy and then all the other stuff. The other Italians originally were not Romans.

 

[Ambitious Sloth]

The reason is that Rome was the actual name of their country. There was no such country as Italy back then and thus no Italians.

Now the next question is; why is it named Rome anyways? The answer is that it was founded a guy named Romulus and the whole "country" at that point consisted of a settlement next to the river Tiber. Over the next few centuries various Kings, Consuls, and Emperors conquered or annexed new lands (spanning from modern day Portugal to Turkey and Britain to the north-most parts of Africa) and decided to keep the original name of the country "Rome".

Hope that clears things up.

 

[Skratt]

City States and the Imperial Conquest of neighboring City States turned the City State of Rome into the Roman Empire - hence Romans.

 

[Mrsoupcup]

The same reason we call Spartans, Spartans


Italy did not exist as a country.

Or why Persians are Persians and not Iranians.

 

[LetoTheTyrant]

Well the other reason for being 'Romans' is following the theme of why 'Rome' was named 'Rome.

It was after 'Romulus', their legendary founder. I know the story of Romulus or Remus, but I don't know if there were actual people at some point; however, Romulus does give Rome and then the Romans their name.

Tbh, Romans are quite a favorite ancient civilization of mine; but mostly for the military really, they were very good at that. Other than that, Greeks are the only other ancient civilization where I know as much as I know about Romans, probably due to the other ones not having as large a lasting impact on Western Europe.

 

[Snarky Username]

Because it was originally called the Roman Empire, not the Italian Empire.

The country of Italy came after Rome.

 

[Snarky Username]

Well the other reason for being 'Romans' is following the theme of why 'Rome' was named 'Rome.

It was after 'Romulus', their legendary founder. I know the story of Romulus or Remus, but I don't know if there were actual people at some point; however, Romulus does give Rome and then the Romans their name.

Tbh, Romans are quite a favorite ancient civilization of mine; but mostly for the military really, they were very good at that. Other than that, Greeks are the only other ancient civilization where I know as much as I know about Romans, probably due to the other ones not having as large a lasting impact on Western Europe.

Actually, Romulus was a real historical figure and did bring Rome together. He was also the first king of Rome.

 

[Dags90]

The answer is that it was founded a guy named Romulus and the whole "country" at that point consisted of a settlement next to the river Tiber.

Wow. That synopsis of the Romulus and Remus story does it no justice. The story itself is complete myth, there is no real objective answer. It should be taken with same credence as other creation myths.

 

[tofulove]

post roman Italian peninsula, taken over by Germans, taken over by other Germans, taken over by other germans, split into city states. bickered with each other. got they ass kicked thoroughly by the eastern empire. Germans again, city states again. Italy. more or less.

 

[tofulove]

oh almost forgot, mostly controlled by the mongols for a very short period of time, before the empire fell.