Ancient Rome was a kingdom, then a republic, and finally an empire that lasted from 753 BCE to about 476 CE, over a thousand years! Although their ideas and innovations in art, architecture, engineering, and politics were two thousand years ago, their legacy is seen all around and still influences us today.
Ancient Romans were influenced by pottery, painting, and sculpture from Greece. Wealthy Romans collected art. Sculptures, paintings, and relief carvings were present in all public buildings. Many sculptures were life-like recreations of gods, goddesses, generals, or statesmen.
The Romans developed architecture learned from ancient Greece and created designs such as the arch, vaults, and domes. Some of their greatest architectural achievements are the Colosseum, Pantheon, Circus Maximus, and Arch of Constantine.
The ancient Romans built sturdy roads, many of which still exist today. They stretched across the empire and made traveling and trading more efficient. They invented aqueducts to carry fresh water from the mountains to the cities.
SPEAKING AND WRITING
ACHIEVEMENTSOF ANCIENT ROME
RULE OF LAW
Ancient Romans spoke Latin. They wrote on wax tablets, thin leaves of wood, papyrus, or parchment. They valued oral storytelling and speeches called oratories. Cicero was known as one of Ancient Rome's greatest philosophers and orators. Virgil was a famous poet who wrote the Aeneid.
Romans believed in theory that the law should apply to all citizens. People who broke the law would be tried by a jury before conviction. Still, Whatever pleases the emperor was the law and the poor generally faced harsher punishments.