Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.

Roma

Specialty Definition: Italian battleship Roma

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

The Roma was a Vittorio Veneto class battleship.

Roma was sunk on September 9, 1943, by a German Fritz X bomb launched from a Dornier Do 217 aircraft. It was thus the first capital ship to be sunk by a guided anti-ship missile.

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Italian battleship Roma."

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Roma

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

Roma is:

• The Latin and Italian name for Rome.
• A Roman deity, see Roma (god)
• A town in Queensland, see Roma, Australia
• A movie by Federico Fellini from 1972, see Roma (movie)
• A nomadic people originating from India, also known as gypsies, see Roma and Sinti
• A Roman mythological figure, see Roma (mythology)
• An Italian battleship, see Italian battleship Roma

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Roma."

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Roma (god)

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

In Ancient Rome, Roma was a supposed deity to whom were dedicated some temples and sacred sites; effectively, it was an allegory rhetorically representing the symbolic personification of the State, first appeared in 269 BC in roman coins, and in Locri (Calabria) in 204 BC. External peoples might have given Roma divine attributes, but it seems to be only an hypothesis. Emphasising this allegory, temples were erected in Smyrna (195 BC) and some sort of cult is reported in Ephesus, Sardis and Delo.

Roma was a god decreed to exist by Augustus Caesar early in his career as "Princeps Civitatis" (1st among citizens -- i.e. Emperor) as part of a propaganda campaign. In this way he deified the concept of Rome, building many temples with his Res Gestae (resume telling his subjects all his deeds) alongside of inscriptions that popularized the new god Roma.

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Roma (god)."

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Roma and Sinti

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

The Roma (or Romany) and Sinti (also called Kalé) are nomadic peoples found throughout Europe and the United States. Often both groups are referred to as Roma, but it is a mistake to call the Sinti this. The Sinti are believed to be mainly descendants of nomadic groups roaming Europe in the middle ages such as the vagantes (a latin word for wanderer). The Tzigane are a sub-group of the Roma.

Collectively, they are popularly referred to as Gypsies. It is derived from "Egypt", for it is believed that when the Roma first arrived in Europe their (relatively) dark skins caused many Europeans to believe that they were natives of Egypt - the only hot foreign country most had heard of. (In fact, they trace back to India.) The term was never used by the Roma or Sinti to describe themselves but was imposed by outsiders. The term, Gypsy, has long been associated with persecution and fails to recognize that the Roma and Sinti form distinct (although socio-economically related) groups.

They have their own language, called Calé, but better known as Romany. Analysis of the Romany language has shown that it is related to those spoken in northern India, such as Hindi and Punjabi, which is believed to indicate their true geographical origin. Loanwords in Roma make it possible to trace the pattern of their migration west. Body habitus and ABO blood group distribution is also consistent with northern Indian warrior classes.

The Roma are believed to have left India about 1000 A.D. and to have passed through what is now Afghanistan, Persia, Armenia, and Turkey. People recognizable by other Roma as Roma still live as far east as Iran, including some who made the migration to Europe and returned. It is virtually impossible to identify Roma still living in India. By the 14th century, Roma had reached the Balkans and by the 16th century, Scotland and Sweden. Some Roma migrated south through Syria to North Africa.

The reason for the diaspora of the Roma is one of the great mysteries of history. It has been proposed by some scholars that the Roma were originally low caste Hindus recruited into an army of mercenaries, whereupon they were granted warrior caste status, and sent westwards to resist Islamic military expansion. Why the Roma failed to return to India, and chose instead to travel ever-further west into the strange and sometimes hostile lands of Europe is an enigma.

Their principal occupations over the centuries have been as itinerant peddlers, metal workers and horse dealers.

Roma and Sinti were widely believed to have psychic powers (see the popular stereotype of the Gypsy fortune-teller), and some romantics attribute the invention of the Tarot cards to them. This may reflect the belief that the Rom and Sinti, being of Egyptian origin, had knowledge of lost arts and sciences of the ancient Egyptians.

Because of their nomadic life-style, there has always been a great deal of mutual distrust between the Roma and Sinti and their less mobile neighbours. They were, and frequently still are, popularly believed to be thieves, resulting in a great deal of persecution. This belief is the etymological source of the term gyp, meaning "cheat", as in "I got gypped by a con man."

This distrust reached a peak in World War II when the Nazis murdered large numbers of Roma and Sinti. They were one of the major groups (along with Jews, communists, homosexuals, prostitutes, etc.) to be automatically sentenced to imprisonment in a concentration camp or killed on sight. It is believed that between 600,000 and 2 million (about 70% of Rom population) were killed. (see Porajmos)

Where possible, many Roma and Sinti continue their nomadic lifestyle traveling in caravans (small trailer homes), but in many situations in Eastern Europe live in depressed squatter communities with very high unemployment. In some cases, notably the Kalderash clan in Romania - traditional coppersmiths, they have prospered.

References

• Gypsies, Wanderers of the World, Bart McDowell, Photographs by Bruce Dale, National Geographic Society, 1970, hardback illustrated by photographs, 215 pages. ISBN 0870440888
• National Geographic, April, 2001, "Gypsies, The World's Outsiders," pp. 72-101.

Related topics

• Irish Travellers
• Romany language

Remark

In Germany and Switzerland, France and Austria there also exist so-called white gypsys which are known under the name of Jenische (German spelling), Yéniche (French spelling), Yenish (English spelling). Their language seems to be grammatically identical with other (Swiss) German dialects; the origin of the lexicon however incorporates German, Romany, Yiddish and other words. See: http://www.thata.ch/jenische.htm

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Roma and Sinti."

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Roma, Australia

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

Roma is a town of Waldegrave county, Queensland, Australia, 515 km (318 miles) by rail W.N.W. of Brisbane. It is the centre of a rich pastoral and wheat-growing district, in which oranges and vines are largely grown and much wine is produced. The town was incorporated in 1867. Flour-milling is its chief industry.

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Roma, Australia."

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Roma, Texas

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

Roma is a city located in Starr County, Texas. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 9,617.

Geography

Roma is located at 26°24'22" North, 99°0'20" West (26.406101, -99.005644)¹. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.5 km² (2.9 mi²). 7.1 km² (2.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 4.50% water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there are 9,617 people, 2,678 households, and 2,351 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,345.3/km² (3,490.2/mi²). There are 3,141 housing units at an average density of 439.4/km² (1,139.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 90.30% White, 0.15% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.04% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 7.76% from other races, and 1.51% from two or more races. 98.54% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. There are 2,678 households out of which 50.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.3% are married couples living together, 19.6% have a female householder with no husband present, and 12.2% are non-families. 11.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.59 and the average family size is 3.91. In the city the population is spread out with 34.9% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 18.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 28 years. For every 100 females there are 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 81.0 males. The median income for a household in the city is $15,563, and the median income for a family is $16,883. Males have a median income of $16,020 versus $12,656 for females. The per capita income for the city is $7,539. 54.3% of the population and 48.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 64.2% are under the age of 18 and 46.3% are 65 or older.

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Roma, Texas."

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Rome

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

Alternate meanings: See Rome (disambiguation)

Rome (Roma) is the capital city of Italy. It is located on the Tiber river, in the central part of the country near the Tyrrhenian Sea, at 41°50'N, 12°15'E. The Vatican City, located in an enclave within Rome, is the seat of the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church (see also under Roman Catholicism).

Rome was the seat of the Roman Kingdom, Roman Republic, and the Roman Empire.

Photograph of the Roman Colosseum in Rome, Italy

By tradition, Rome was founded on April 21, 753 BC, by Romulus, who killed in the process his twin brother named Remus. This date was the basis for the Roman calendar and the Julian calendar (Ab urbe condita). Romulus and Remus were allegedly sons of the god Mars and the priestess Rea Silvia, daughter of Numitor, king of Albalonga. The boys were abandoned to save them from the hate of Amulius, a pretender to Albalonga's throne, and taken care of by a she-wolf, even today one of the symbols of Rome. Romulus later killed Remus and became the first ruler of Rome. See also founding of Rome

Rome was built on the Sun hill, which was later named Palatine, and extended to include the seven hills:

• Palatine,
• Aventine,
• Capitoline,
• Quirinal,
• Viminal,
• Esquiline and
• Caelian,

after the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn (see also Roman mythology).

There is a mnemonic device used to recall the names of the seven hills: Can Queen Victoria Eat Cold Apple Pie?

The Roman civilisation developed the Latin language, its official language and one of the fundamental elements in linguistics, and the source of the Romance languages. It is to this day the official language of the Catholic Church and the Vatican.

''This is a simulated-color image of Rome
that was taken by NASA satellite Landsat 7
(Larger version)

Rome timeline

• 753 BC - The founding of Rome
• 509 BC - End of Roman Kingdom, constitution of the Roman Republic
• 451 BC - With the publishing of the Laws of the 12 Tables, the Roman law is born
• 390 BC Rome is sacked by the Gauls. All historical records are destroyed, putting the period between 753-390 in the realm of legend.
• 343 BC-146 BC - Roman expansion and conquest of Italian peoples (Etruscans, Samnites, Tarentini), African peoples (Carthage), Hellenic peoples (Macedones, Greeks), Asian peoples (Syrians, Rhodenses, Pergamus), Gaulish peoples (Ligures, Caenomanes, Veneti), and Iberiann peoples (Lusitani, Celtiberians).
• 133 BC-123 BC - Democratical reformations by Gracchi
• 44 BC - Julius Caesar murdered
• 31 BC-AD 14 - Age of Augustus, end of civil wars (pax romana) and transformation of the republic into the Roman Empire
• 64 - Great fire of Rome: A fire starts on July 18 in the merchant area of Rome and soon burns completely out of control while Emperor Nero reportedly plays his lyre and sings while watching the blaze from a safe distance.
• 96-192 - greatest territorial extension of the Empire, under Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian and the Antoninii
• 395 - Death of Theodosius the Great, division of the Empire, Rome becomes the capital city of Western Roman Empire
• 410 - Visigoths sack Rome
• 454 - Following the death of Valentinian III, the Vandals invade Rome, extensively looting it, and carry off several of Valentinian's surviving family as hostages
• 800 - On Christmas, Charlemagne is crowned Imperator of the Holy Roman Empire by Pope Leo III
• 1095 - First Lateran Council, Roman curia made sole responsible of the papal election
• 1144 - Founding of the Comune (town council) of Rome
• 1347 and 1354 - Popular government by Cola di Rienzo, while popes are in Avignon
• 1527 - Rome is sacked by Lansquenets
• 1798-1799 - The first Roman Republic
• 1848-1849 - The second Roman Republic (led by Giuseppe Mazzini and Aurelio Saffi), Pope Pius IX out of town
• 1870 - Bersaglieri, selected troops of Sardinian army, enter Rome by Porta Pia
• 1871 - Rome is the capital city of Italy, the Italian unification is complete, the House of Savoy rules the kingdom of Italy
• 1929 - With the Lateran Pacts (Concordato), Italy and Vatican settle respective borders, attributions, competences. The Holy See loses its temporal power outside Vatican City
• 1942 - During World War II Rome is bombed by the Allies for the first time in the war on July 19.
• 1946 - The king leaves Italy, that becomes a republic, most of the royal patrimony in the town is attributed to the city Council

History

Rome was the seat of the Roman Kingdom, Roman Republic, and the Roman Empire.

A picture of the Roman Colosseum

After the fall of the Roman Empire, Rome soon became the capital city of the Papal States, the territorial entity ruled by the Papacy that would last until 1870, when Italy was unified by the former king of Sardinia. During this long period Rome became the worldwide centre of Christianity and increasingly developed a relevant political role that made it one of the most important towns of the Old Continent. In art, although Florence became the center of humanism and the Rinascimento (Renaissance), Rome was the center of baroque, and architecture deeply affected its central areas.

In the 16th century a central area was delimited around Portico d'Ottavia, for the creation of the famous Roman Ghetto, an area which the Jews were forced to live in.

Some of the most famous views of Rome in the 18th century were etched by Giovanni Battista Piranesi. His grand vision of classic Rome inspired many to visit the city and examine the ruins themselves.

Map of downtown Rome during the time of the Roman Empire
(larger image)

The Roman urban form reflects the stratification of the succeeding epochs, with a wide historical center; this today contains many areas from Ancient Rome, very few areas from Quattrocento (mainly around piazza Farnese), and lots of churches and palaces from baroque times. The historical centre is identified as within the limits of ancient imperial walls. Some central areas were reorganised after the unification (1880-1910 - Roma Umbertina), and some important additions and adaptations made during the fascism, with the discussed creation of Fori Imperiali and the founding of new quartieri (among which Eur, San Basilio, Garbatella, Cinecittà and, on the coast, the restructuring of Ostia) and the inclusion of bordering villages (Labaro, Osteria del Curato, Quarto Miglio, Capannelle, Pisana, Torrevecchia, Ottavia, Casalotti). These expansions were needed to face the huge increase of population due to the centralisation of the Italian state.

During WWII Rome suffered some heavy bombings (notably at San Lorenzo) and battles (Porta San Paolo, La Storta) and was considered an "open town" (as in the film by Roberto Rossellini).

After the war Rome continued to expand, mainly for a similar reason of increased number of inhabitants (this time due to the development of the state administrations and the progressive turning of general national economy from mainly agricultural to modern industrial schemes), with the creation of new quartieri and suburbs; the current estimated number of inhabitants is appr. 3,5 millions, but it has been estimated that in working time more than 5 million people are in the town. They were 138,000 in 1825, 244,000 in 1871, 692,000 in 1921, 1,600,000 in 1961.

Rome organised the 1960 Summer Olympics, using many ancient sites, such as the Villa Borghese and the Thermae of Caracalla as venues or surroundings.

Many of the monuments of Rome were restored by the Italian state and by the Vatican for the 2000 Jubilee.

The Grande Raccordo Anulare, the round motorway that surrounds most part of it, is more than 80 km long.

Being the capital city of Italy, Rome hosts all the principal institutions of the nation, like the Presidency of the Republic, the government (and its single Ministeri), the Parliament, the main judicial Courts, and the diplomatic representatives of all the countries for the states of Italy and the Vatican City (curiously, Rome also hosts, in the Italian part of its territory, the Embassy of Italy for the Vatican City, a unique case of an Embassy within the boundaries of its own country). Many international institutions are based in Rome, notably cultural and scientific ones, or humanitarian like the FAO.

See Also: Roman Kingdom, Roman Republic, Roman Empire

Modern Rome

Rome is today one of the most important touristic destinations of the world, due to its immense heritage of archaeological and artistic treasures, as well as for its unique traditions and the beauty of its views and its "villas" (parks). Among the most interesting resources, plenty of museums (i.e., Musei Capitolini, the Vatican Museums, Galleria Borghese, and a great many others), churches, historical buildings, the monuments and ruins such as the Roman Forum or the Catacombs.

Senatus Populusque Romanus

It is commonly identified by several proper symbols, including the Colosseum, the she-wolf (Lupa), the imperial eagle, and the symbols of Christianity. The famous acronym S.P.Q.R recalls the ancient age and the unity between Roman Senate and population.

It is called "The Urbs", "caput mundi" (head of the world), "Città Eterna" (eternal city), and "Limen Apostolorum" (the threshold of the apostles).

The town's colors are yellow and red (garnet).

Rome has two own holidays, on April 21 (the founding of Rome), and on June 29 (the patron Saints, Peter and Paul). Other dates too are locally important, like December 8 (the Immaculate Conception) and January 6 (Epiphany).

Among the hundreds of churches, Rome contains the five Major Basilicas of the Catholic church: San Pietro in Vaticano (St. Peter's Basilica), San Paolo fuori le Mura (St. Paul outside the Walls), Santa Maria Maggiore (St. Mary Major), San Lorenzo fuori le Mura (St. Lawrence outside the Walls), and San Giovanni in Laterano (St. John Lateran), the see of Roman diocese and the spirtual centre of the entire Catholic Church. The Bishop of Rome is the Pope, helped by a vicar (usually a cardinal) for his pastoral activity.

Other monuments and sites

• Appian way
• Arch of Constantine
• Arch of Septimius Severus
• Arch of Titus
• Circus Maximus
• Pantheon
• Spanish Steps
• Tarpeian Rock
• Trajan's Column
• Trevi Fountain
• Basilica of Our Lady at the Heavenly Altar
• Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels
• Basilica of the Sacred Immaculate Heart of Mary
• St. Agnes Outside the Walls Basilica
• St. Camillus of Lellis Basilica
• St. Charles at the Corso Basilica
• St. Mark's Basilica
• St. Pancras Basilica
• St. Peter in Chains Basilica

Transportation

Rome has a modern day airport formally named Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport, but more commonly known as Fiumicino.

Proverbs about Rome

• When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
• All roads lead to Rome.
• Rome wasn't built in a day.

During its long history, Rome has always had a scarcity of native inhabitants, so by tradition a "true" Roman is one whose family has lived in Rome for no less than 7 generations: this is the original "Romano de Roma" (in Romanesco, the local dialect of Italian).

External links

• Quattrocento
• some quick facts about Rome
• Satellite image of Rome at NASA's Earth Observatory
  

nds:Rom

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Rome."

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Abbreviations & Acronyms: Roma

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Synonyms within Context: Roma

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Modern Usage: Roma

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Commercial Usage: Roma

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Image Slideshow: Roma

Photos: Roma More pictures...

Illustrations: Roma More pictures...

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Photo Album: Roma

Thumbnail	Description & Credit	Thumbnail	Description & Credit
	Recycling coordinator for the city of Roma, TX, and Zaragoza Rodriguez (right), NRCS RC&D coordinator, Rio Brazo RC&D, discuss paper recycling. The Rio Brazo RC&D assisted in the purchase of the recycling equipment. [Slide 97CS3012.JPG.JPG]. Credit: Ken Hammond.		Martha Artega, NRCS Public Affairs Specialist, works with children on a conservation education project in Roma, TX. [Slide 97CS3024]. Credit: Ken Hammond.
	Martha Artega, NRCS, Public Affairs Specialist, works with children on a conservation education project in Roma, Texas. Credit: USDA.		Servendo nell 'Ospedale della Consolazione di Roma ne contrae un morbo Contagioso. / Dom. del Frate inv. e dis. Vinc Feoli inc. Credit: National Library of Medicine.
	Disegno Dell Isola Di S Bartolomeo In Trastever Di Roma.... / Gio. Lambruzzi deli. Michel-Angelo Marinari Scul. Credit: National Library of Medicine.		Winckelmann / Angelika Kaufmann pinxt., Roma. Credit: Library of Congress.
	Original design of an illumination & transparency, part of which was executed by command of the Queen in June 1762, in honour of his majesty's birthday / D. Cunego, sculp., Roma ; R. Adam, architect, 1762. Credit: Library of Congress.		Cleopatra morta, a vista dé soui ornamenti Reali / Pinelli inv. e inc. Roma 1821. Credit: Library of Congress.
	Ottaviano visita Cleopatra, mentre lei abbatuta dalle sue sciagrue, gli si prostra dinnanzi / Pinelli inv. e inc. Roma 1821. Credit: Library of Congress.		Il 9 febbraio 1973, a Roma, con i metalmeccanici : per la lotta generale contro il governo del fermo e dell'omicidio di polizia. Credit: Library of Congress.
Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits.

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Digital Photo Gallery: Roma
 

"Mena in Roma 2" by Djalma Patricio Commentary: "Cidades Italianas."	"Police 2" by Paolo Bosani Commentary: "Polizia in stazione a Roma Termini."
Source: photographs selected by the editor, with permission from the photographers.

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Familiar Quotations: Roma

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Non-Fiction Usage: Roma

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Usage Frequency: Roma

Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.

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Name Usage Frequency: Roma

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Usage in Company Names: Roma

Source: compiled by the editor from Icon Group International, Inc.

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Cities: Roma

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Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.