Ancient Roman Civilization

Ancient Roman Civilization

• 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.

Legacies of Roman Language

• 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.

Legacies of Roman Literature

• 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.

Legacies of Roman Law

• 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.