Thursday, August 22, 2019
The Influence of the Roman Empire Essay Example for Free
The Influence of the Roman Empire Essay The culture of ancient Rome casts a long shadow over our lives in the twenty-first century. Even if we don’t remember the origins, the influence of the ancient Romans can be seen all around us. Many buildings of high importance in the western world show the traditions of Roman architecture. The founding fathers of the United States drew upon Roman examples to craft our laws and design our system of government. The Roman influence on language, politics and military science are immeasurable. The ancient Romans were the world’s first superpower. Their achievements, and the seeds of their destruction, are mirrored in our society today. Master Builders The Romans were master builders. Combining what they knew from Greek architecture with their own innovations they constructed spectacular monuments roads aqueducts, arenas and other structures. Many of today’s buildings show the direct influence of ancient Rome. The Romans revolutionized road building. Their systems of roads are the models for our modern day cities. Advances in concrete production made these roads and many other buildings possible. The Romans might have been remembered even if this was their only accomplishment. The source of their vast influence on modern construction stems from their abilities to combine technological advances with functionality and aesthetics. The Romans also perfected the science of arch building. That science is alive and well today in our bridges and buildings. The Romans realized that the arch was an extremely strong, as well as beautiful, architectural form. They used it to full effect in their forums, aqueducts, churches and monuments. Our modern sports stadiums still resemble the Roman prototypes. The Romans devised an ingenious design to move large numbers of people in and out efficiently. The Flavian amphitheatre could seat 50,000 spectators, a number rivaling many of today’s stadiums. The ancient Romans were early innovators of â€Å"big entertainment.†Fox writes that the Romans were â€Å"conspicuous in history for the scale of public entertainment. The huge arenas hosted music, plays, chariot races and gladiator games. Like today, these entertainments were a cultural touchstone for the ancient Romans. One way the early Roman republic communicated with the citizens was through its coinage. The government often added phrases to the coins when minted. These phrases might state the grandeur of the empire or communicate the expectations of the larger state to each individual citizen. The coinage tradition has continued to this day. Most U.S. currency bears a phrase such as â€Å"E Pluribus Unum†(out of many, one). Not coincidentally, these phrases are written in Latin, the language of the ancient Romans. This is just one indicator of the influence of the Latin language throughout the world. As an empire, the Romans carried the language and tradition of Latin through large portions of the world. â€Å"Latin remained for centuries the common language of Europe and for longer still the language of the Catholic Church†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Wells, 1984). The Republic The Roman republic was in place prior to 500 B.C. In 100 B.C. Julius Caesar was born, beginning the succession of Julio-Claudian leaders. By 79 A.D. the empire had disintegrated, but Roman concepts of law and government would carry a heavy influence for many centuries to come. In 18 B.C. the first substantial laws were enacted. These laws penalized adultery and childlessness and promoted childbirth. Like many of our laws today, these laws served a dual purpose. The Roman state needed more people, primarily to replace those who had been lost in a series of brutal wars. At the same time, the laws were a reflection of the prevailing morality of the day. Most countries no longer have comparable laws, but the motivations for the laws remain the same. Laws are part pragmatic, part moral. The early Roman republic was progressive and populist in nature. Offices were â€Å"†¦crafted to prevent any one person from seizing power†(Matyszak, 2006). The â€Å"checks and balances†our democratic nation features today are an outgrowth of that early Roman philosophy of government. We tend to think of democracy as a relatively new movement in the context of history. According to author Robin Fox, ancient Rome â€Å"†¦might deserve the label ‘democracy†(Fox, 2006). Representatives were elected by direct vote. A public vote also preceded the enacting of any new laws. Conclusion The ancient Roman society was remarkably modern in its nature and in its achievements. Their accomplishments are numerous and have a direct impact on our lives today. Robin Fox writes: The lasting memorials of the Roman Empire are roads and city-            buildings, aqueducts and Roman law and the Latin which            underlies many European languages.                                                                                   (Fox, 2006) The Roman focus on individualism was a strength of the republic. Unfortunately, it also led to its downfall. Individuals with no control over their self-interested pursuits engaged in power struggles. An alienated public led to a loss of support and paved the way for tyranny. A tyrannical state is destined to fall. It is deceptively easy for a democracy to move down that road. Democracies can in the short term be more fragile than dictatorships or other forms of government. Democracy relies on participation and a certain level of moral conduct to maintain itself in the long run. The ancient Romans were an incredibly productive culture. Their achievements have stood the test of time. As advanced as their republic was, however; it could not resist a slide into tyranny. This provides a lesson for us that goes beyond even their achievements in law, architecture and politics. Sources Fox, Robin Lane. The Classical World: an epic history from Homer to Hadrian. New York, Basic Books, 2006. Matyszak, Philip. The Sons of Caesar: Imperial Rome’s First Dynasty. London: Thames Hudson, 2006. Wells, Colin. The Roman Empire. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 1984.
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