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Why Study Ancient Rome?

The ancient Romans left a treasure trove of ideas to the modern world. This legacy included many concepts that are still very important even today. Systems of laws and government, architecture, literature, and language are just a few key concepts brought to us by none other than the Ancient Romans.

What set the Romans apart from other ancient societies was their ability to take something and make it even better than before. They excelled at this. The Romans could take any idea, copy it, and find a way to do it better than before.

A perfect example of this can be found in literature. The Romans were very familiar with the stories of the Greek gods. They were beloved stories, but there was just one problem. They weren’t Roman. So, they changed the names, made the gods attributes and personalities more “Romanesque,” and switched the stories around just a little to suit their culture. And viola! …Roman gods. Even better, they would insist that their “new” gods were not new at all and had always existed, even before the Greeks made it popular.

What else did the Romans accomplish? The list is quite lengthy:

Architecture

The ancient Romans developed new ways of building and constructing. They are most famous for their “Roman roads.” The famous saying “All roads lead to Rome” is quite true – well, in ancient Rome they sure did. Roads were typically built in straight lines and always extended back to Rome. These roads also included special markers – mileposts – to tell travelers how far away from Rome they were.

The Romans were also the first to use concrete in construction. The Pantheon and the Colosseum were both built using concrete. This method of building allowed structures to exist for much longer than ever before.

Don’t forget the aqueducts! These impressive structures allowed fresh water to flow into the city. As the Roman empire grew larger, it was difficult for citizens to get water from wells or lakes in the traditional way, so they found a way to bring the water right into the city. This water was then used for drinking, irrigation and for the infamous public baths of Rome.

Latin

As the Romans spread across Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa, they took their language with them. And it spread like wildfire. Latin became the root of all the romance languages. Its influence can easily be seen when comparing English, French, and Spanish. In fact, it is estimated that about 28% of the words we use in modern English have Latin origin.

Laws and Government

The popular idea of “Innocent until proven guilty” is a Roman concept, as well as many other facets of our own legal and governmental systems today. The very idea of a republic comes from none other than Rome. A republic is a system of government in which every citizen can vote for their leaders who in turn, create their laws. (Keep in mind, in Rome, the only citizens were men. Women, children, and slaves were not considered citizens.)

In Rome, the laws applied to everyone – free or slave, rich or poor. And the government wanted the people to know what they laws were, so they engraved the laws on tablets and placed them in the forum in view of the public. These tablets were known as the Twelve Tables. (Named for its twelve sections, which covered almost every facet of daily life.)

Arts, Leisure, and Entertainment

The Romans were masters of the arts and entertainment. From literature, to theatre, to art … they could do it all. Comic theater was very popular in ancient Rome. Sculptures, statues, ornate jewelry, and mosaics were all hallmarks of the Roman art scene.

The Romans while famous for their gladiator fights and chariot races, also developed many board and ball games we still play today, in one form or another. From knuckleball to jacks to backgammon and chess, they all have Roman influence. Swimming also became a popular pastime in ancient Rome.

Other Ideas and Customs

Rome gave us the 365-days-a-year calendar, and many of the months of the year were named for Roman Emperors. Julius Caesar named July after himself. When Augustus Caesar became emperor he named the month after July, “August”… of course, after himself. But at the time, August only had 30 days, not 31 like July. And that was not fitting for the new emperor! So, astronomers took a day away from February and added it to August. And that’s why February is the shortest month of the year.

Romans also gave us many of the customs we still practice today. The giving of rings to one another to symbolize love and friendship, such as engagement rings and wedding rings is largely a Roman custom. Using fresh greenery to celebrate holidays, like Christmas, is another Roman idea.

Last, but not least, take a look at your feet. If you are wearing comfortable shoes, you can thank the Romans. They were the first to construct an adjusted shoe that curved along the angle of each foot!

These various “gifts” from the Romans are just the tip of the iceberg. Take some time to learn more about ancient Rome. It will help you better understand the society we find ourselves living in today.

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