Ancient Roman Civilization

Questions and Answers

What was the official language of the ancient Romans?

Phoenician

Greek

Latin (correct)

Italian

Why did the Roman Empire prefer to let conquered people adopt Latin on their own will?

To isolate them from the rest of the empire

To impose Roman culture on them

To facilitate business and communication across the empire (correct)

To legally require it and punish those who didn't comply

What was the approximate literacy rate of the Roman Empire during its time period?

Up to 20% of the population

Up to 30% of the population (correct)

Up to 50% of the population

Up to 10% of the population

Who devised the modern alphabet that influenced the Latin alphabet?

The Phoenicians Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the ways Latin became associated with importance?

It was used as the official language for kingdoms, churches, and scholars Signup and view all the answers

What is a common practice today that is influenced by the Romans' use of Latin?

Giving new discoveries Latin names Signup and view all the answers

Who were some of the greatest Roman authors?

Cicero, Horace, Virgil, and Ovid Signup and view all the answers

What was a common characteristic of Roman literature?

It blended reality and mythology Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant contribution of Cicero's writings to Western civilization?

The definition of modern standards of right and wrong Signup and view all the answers

What type of government did the Roman republic have?

Republic Signup and view all the answers

What was a key concern of the Roman legal system?

Preventing one person from achieving absolute power Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant legacy of Roman law in modern democracies?

The separation of powers Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of Roman citizenship?

It defined who could receive the rights of Roman law Signup and view all the answers

What was a lasting legacy of Virgil and Ovid's works?

The stories of classical mythology Signup and view all the answers

What was a key aspect of the Roman system of government after 29 BC?

The emperor was subject to the will of the Senate Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

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.