Roma Victor: Europe's First Serial Acquirer

Abstract

Besides adopting the tactics and types of arms and armor effectively used by its adversities, the Romans also incorporated superior intangibles such as tactical knowledge of their enemies. This case is used in Darden's Post-Merger Acquisition course elective to draw parallels to M & A strategies used by corporations today. Excerpt UVA-BP-0551 Rev. Feb. 5, 2015 Roma Victor: Europe's First Serial Acquirer In 753 BC, Rome, a small settlement on the banks of the Tiber River in Italy, began an expansion of its sphere of influence over almost all Europe that would last for the next eight centuries. At its greatest extent, it stretched from the rugged territories of Britannia to the deserts of Mesopotamia and included all the states adjacent to the Mediterranean Sea. Through its approach to managing expansion and subsequent integration, Rome not only became Europe's first serial acquirer but also the continent's first enduring superpower, based almost exclusively on cross-border takeovers. Building an Empire Rome's growth was achieved almost entirely through conquests. Although these takeovers were literally hostile, the continuous expansion of the Roman Empire brought the Western World a period of major stability and prosperity. The growth and development of Rome up to the time of its zenith can be divided into four phases: domestic consolidation, Mediterranean campaigns, Gallic Wars, and expansion under its emperors. . . .