Rome's Legacies

Fall of the Western Roman Empire

Rome's Legacies

Warm Up

List three things that led to the fall of the Western Roman Empire.

Objective

By the end of the period, I will be able to describe the legacies of the Western Roman Empire.

The influence of the ancient Romans still surrounds us. Roman achievements live on in our system of laws and government today. The peace and order created by Roman rule helped with the rapid growth and spread of the Christian religion.

Ancient Rome

ROME'S INFLUENCE ON LAW AND GOVERNMENT

Many beliefs about law and justice in the American legal system come from Roman ideas. Building on Roman concepts, we believe that everyone is equal under the law. We also believe that a person is considered innocent until proven guilty. We, like the Romans, require our judges to decide cases fairly.

The republican form of government was developed in ancient Rome. Citizenship was an essential part of Roman life. Citizens in a republic elected their leaders. Some emperors thought that granting citizenship would help gain support for Roman rule. Emperors made many people in the provinces citizens for their service to the empire. The United States and a number of other countries today are democratic republics. We also believe that a republic works best if all adult citizens vote, participate in government, and help improve their communities.

ROME'S INFLUENCE ON LAW AND GOVERNMENT

ROME'S CULTURAL IMPACT

Although Rome was influenced by Greece, Roman culture was distinct and had its own impact on society. Roman art was known for being more realistic than Greek. Roman statues included wrinkles, warts, and other less attractive features. Romans borrowed and modified the Greek philosophy of Stoicism, encouraging Romans to live in a practical way. The Roman philosophers Epictetus and Seneca produced influential works on Stoicism and ethics.

Many Western countries use the Latin alphabet, which has expanded from 22 to 26 letters. The Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Romanian languages are derived from Latin-the language of the Romans. Many English words have Latin roots. Latin phrases are part of the vocabulary of scientists, doctors, and lawyers.

ROME'S CULTURAL IMPACT

ROME'S CULTURAL IMPACT

The Romans continue to influence the literature we read and enjoy. The great Roman writers such as Pliny the Elder, Plutarch, Virgil, Horace, Livy, and Tacitus are still admired and studied. For example, Virgil's Aeneid endures as an influential work of literature and history. Architecture and construction also owe much to the ancient Romans. Government buildings in Washington, D.C., and the capital cities of many states feature domes and arches inspired by Roman architecture. Concrete, a Roman development, remains a major building material today.

Christianity is a major world religion. It began in the eastern part of the Roman Empire and was adopted by Rome's emperors in the 300s C.E. Those emperors helped the new religion grow and spread. The Roman road system allowed early Christians to travel throughout the empire safely and quickly. As a result, Christian ideas were easily shared with other groups of people. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Christianity continued to attract new believers.

ANCIENT ROME AND CHRISTIANITY