The city that served as the seat of the Roman Empire for nearly a thousand years is Rome itself. Founded in 753 BC, Rome rose to prominence as the capital of the Roman Republic and later the Roman Empire, becoming a center of political power, culture, and religion. The city was the epicenter of Roman governance and law, influencing a vast territory that stretched across Europe, North Africa, and parts of the Middle East. Rome's architectural and cultural legacy, including monuments like the Colosseum and the Pantheon, endures today, making it a pivotal historic site that shaped Western civilization.