Ancient Roman Civilization

Study Notes

The ancient Romans were an Italian civilization that thrived from roughly 509 BC to 476 AD.
The Roman Empire stretched across most of Europe and the Mediterranean region, from Britain to Africa.

The official language of the Romans was Latin.
Latin unified the first inhabitants of Rome, and its importance led to strict rules about grammar and spelling.
Latin became a shared language across the Roman Empire, allowing conquered people to conduct business together.
The Roman Empire had a relatively high literacy rate of up to 30% of the population.
The Latin alphabet was influenced by ancient Italian languages, the Greeks, and the Phoenicians.
Latin was used as the official language for kingdoms, churches, and scholars throughout history.

Roman poets and authors, such as Cicero, Horace, Virgil, and Ovid, composed important works of literature.
Their works were written in poetic styles that blended reality and mythology, reflecting Roman religious beliefs.
Cicero's writings about morality and philosophy helped define modern standards of right and wrong.
Horace set standards of style for poetry.
Virgil and Ovid provided important historical accounts of Rome and established classical mythology.

The Romans developed a complex legal system that defended democracy.
The Roman laws included practices to limit the power of rulers and protect the rights of the people.
Examples of Roman laws with lasting legacies include term limits, separation of powers, system of checks and balances, impeachment, and elections.
Roman citizenship defined who could receive the rights of Roman law, and it was institutionalized to protect citizens' rights.
The concept of citizenship has remained critical in modern nations, where citizenship is required to vote.