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Rome’s Legacy
World History/Napp
“Romans borrowed and adapted cultural elements freely, especially from the Greek and
Hellenistic cultures. However, the Romans created a great civilization in their own right,
whose art and architecture, language and literature, engineering, and law became its legacy
to the world.
By the second century B.C., Romans had conquered Greece and had come to greatly
admire Greek culture. Educated Romans learned the Greek language. As Horace, a Roman
poet, said, ‘Greece, once overcome, overcame her wild conqueror.’ The mixing of elements
of Greek, Hellenistic, and Roman culture produced a new culture, called Greco-Roman
culture. This is also often called classical civilization.
Roman artists, philosophers, and writers did not merely copy their Greek and Hellenistic
models. They adapted them for their own purposes and created a style of their own. Roman
art and literature came to convey the Roman ideals of strength, permanence, and solidity.
Romans learned the art of sculpture from the Greeks. However, while the Greeks were
known for the beauty and idealization of their sculpture, Roman sculptors created realistic
portraits in stone. Much Roman art was practical in purpose, intended for public
education. Roman artists were particularly skilled in creating mosaics. Mosaics were
pictures or designs made by setting small pieces of stone, glass, or tile onto a surface. Most
Roman villas, the country houses of the wealthy, had at least one colorful mosaic.” ~ World
History
- What is Greco-Roman culture?
- In what way did Roman art differ from Greek art?
- How does the study of art provide insights into a culture or a people?
- Provide examples of cultural diffusion from the reading.
These architectural achievements best indicate that
1. advanced technology existed in early civilizations
2. religion was of little importance
3. entertainment was important to these ancient societies
4. trade routes existed between China and the Americas
Learning and Literature
- Romans borrowed much of
their philosophy from the
Greeks
- The poet Virgil spent ten
years writing the most
famous work of Latin
literature, the Aeneid, the
epic of the legendary Aeneas
- Virgil modeled the Aeneid,
written in praise of Rome
and Roman virtues, after the
Greek epics of Homer
- Yet the poet Ovid wrote
light, witty poetry for
enjoyment
- Tacitus, a Roman
historian, is notable among
ancient historians because
he presented the facts
accurately
Legacy
- Latin, the language of the
Romans, remained the
language of learning in the
West
- It was the official language
of the Roman Catholic
Church into the 20th century
Roman Law
- Rome’s most lasting and
widespread contribution was
its law
- As the empire grew,
however, the Romans came
to believe that laws should
be fair and apply equally to
all people, rich and poor
- Latin developed into
French, Spanish,
Portuguese, Italian, and
Romanian
- Some of the most
important principles of
Roman law were:
- These languages are called
Romance languages because
of their Roman heritage
*All persons had the right
to equal treatment under the
law
- Latin also influenced other
languages; for example,
more than half the words in
English have a basis in Latin
*A person was considered
innocent until proven guilty
- The Romans were also
skilled builders
- The arch, the dome, and
concrete were combined to
build spectacular structures,
such as the Colosseum
- Aqueducts were designed
by Roman engineers to bring
water into cities and towns
- Roman roads were also
technological marvels
Identify and explain the following terms:
Virgil
Ovid
Tacitus
Latin
Colosseum
Roman Roads
Principles of Roman Law
*The burden of proof
rested with the accuser
rather than the accused
* A person should be
punished only for actions,
not thoughts
*Any law that seemed
unreasonable or grossly
unfair could be set aside
- What influence did Latin have on the development of Western languages?
- Which principle of law do you think has been Rome’s greatest contribution to modern
legal systems?
- Do you agree with Horace’s claim that when it came to culture, Greece in essence
conquered Rome? Explain.
- Describe how the world might be different if Rome had not existed.
- Imagine you are a historian. Write an expository essay describing the importance of
Rome’s legacy.
Review: Greeks and Romans
Which society practiced direct democracy?
1. ancient Athens
2. dynastic China
3. Gupta Empire
4. early Egypt
What was one effect of Alexander the
Great’s conquests?
1. expansion of Hellenistic culture
2. formation of the Christian church
3. decreased importance of the Silk
Roads
4. increased support of the Mayan
leaders
One contribution of ancient Roman culture
was the development of
1. the concept of zero
2. the process of making silk
3. a republican form of government
4. the printing press
What effect did the geography of ancient
Greece have on its early development?
1. The mountainous terrain led to the
creation of independent city-states.
2. A lack of natural seaports limited
communication.
3. An inland location hindered trade
and colonization.
4. Abundant natural resources
encouraged self-sufficiency.


Roman women could own property.
Roman women could make wills
leaving their property to whomever
they chose.
A valid conclusion drawn from these facts is
that Roman women
1. had the right to vote
2. enjoyed some legal rights
3. were equal to men
4. could hold political offices
- What features of the Colosseum do you find most beautiful – most useful – and worthiest
of copying? Why?