Background
The Roman Republic was founded in 509 BCE. The
government was run by elected officials called Senators,
who were chosen from the upper class called Patricians.
The lower class, Plebeians, made up the majority
of the population and were generally farmers, artisans,
and merchants.
By 270 BCE, Rome controlled all of Italy.
They also soon conquered Carthage, Macedonia,
Greece, and parts of Asia Minor.
This expansion led to civil war and the end of the
Republic when Julius Caesar took power in
48 BCE. After his murder, Caesar's grandnephew, Augustus,
became Emperor. This began a 200 year long
peace called the Pax Romana. The Pax Romana
became a time of cultural and intellectual achievements
for Rome.
Law
Rome's greatest achievement was its system of laws. Some
of the features of this system include, men being
equal under the law, having the right to face
their accusers, and being considered innocent
until proven guilty. Later, these laws were
written down and named the Laws of the Twelve
Tables. Many aspects of this system of
justice survive today in law codes around the world.
Art &
Architecture
Roman art and architecture is a blending of Greek and
Roman elements. In art, Rome copied many Greek
statues, but also produced a more realistic style
of
portraiture art instead of the idealized
forms favored by the Greeks. In architecture, Rome used Greek
columns, but modified them to be more elaborate,
as well as using the arch and dome quite
extensively, something the Greeks did not do. An
example of Roman use of arches and domes can be seen in
the Pantheon.
Engineering
 The
Romans built engineering marvels across their empire,
such as roads, harbors, and bridges,.
They were well known for the building of aqueducts,
which were bridge like structures used to carry fresh
water across long distances. In Segovia, Spain
the Roman aqueduct still functions today.
Science and
Medicine
As with Hellenistic civilization, Alexandria, Egypt
remained a center of learning under the Romans. In Roman
controlled Alexandria, the astronomer - mathematician
Ptolemy proposed that the earth was the center of
the universe. The geocentric model
offered by Ptolemy was the accepted view until Copernicus
offered the heliocentric, or sun centered theory
of the universe. In medicine, the Greek physician Galen
compiled an encyclopedia that became the standard
medical text until the Islamic doctor Ibn Sina
wrote his Canon on Medicine.
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