Ancient Rome

Ancient Rome was a civilization that originated on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to become one of the largest empires in the ancient world.

History

The history of Ancient Rome can be divided into three distinct periods: the Roman Kingdom, the Roman Republic, and the Roman Empire. The Roman Kingdom was the early period of the ancient Roman civilization, where Rome was ruled by kings. The Roman Republic was the period from the overthrow of the last Roman king, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, to the establishment of the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of ancient Rome.

Society

Ancient Roman society was a complex mix of high culture, the arts, fashion and historic architecture. The laws and governance systems developed by the Romans had a profound influence on later civilizations. The Roman military was a formidable force and contributed to the expansion of the Roman Empire.

Culture

The culture of Ancient Rome was heavily influenced by Roman mythology, the body of traditional stories pertaining to Rome's legendary origins and religious system. Roman literature, such as the epic poem Aeneid, is still celebrated today. The Romans also made significant contributions to architecture, with structures like the Colosseum and the Roman Forum.

Legacy

The legacy of Ancient Rome is widespread and can be observed in the global distribution of civilian law, republican governments, Christianity and the Latin script. Many modern day concepts of state, citizenship, governance, republic, law and legal system can be traced back to Ancient Rome.