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The Romans -

Ancient Roman civilization contributed to the development of law, art, literature, technology, and architecture. A civilization which provided the base for modern culture and life.

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Roman alphabet - The Roman alphabet is the most used writing system in the world, being used by the Romans since the 7th century BCE.

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Roman alphabet - Its influence was such that even languages that don't have their origins in Latin, like English or German, also use the Roman alphabet.

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Latin - With the development of the Latin alphabet came the spread of the Latin language, which provided the basis for various Romance languages such as French, Spanish, and Portuguese, among many others.

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Numerals - The Roman system of numerals is made up of seven capital letters - I, V, X, L, C, D and M.

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Numerals - Roman numerals, created and used in Ancient Rome, still have their purpose today. Roman numerals are most often used when we make reference to centuries.

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Calendar - The calendar we know, using 365 days and 12 months, is also of Roman origin, created by Julius Cesar in 46 BCE.

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Roman monuments - Another incredible aspect of the Romans' legacy are the structures they left behind. The Romans built temples, bath houses, theaters, bridges, arches, aqueducts, and concert halls.

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Coliseum - This world-famous Coliseum in the center of Rome is one of the most enduring symbols of the Roman Empire. Its construction began during the rule of Emperor Vespasian in 72 AD, and was completed in 80 AD.

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Coliseum - The coliseum hosted great events such as gladiator battles. Nowadays it is one of the world's most famous monuments and one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

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Pantheon - The Pantheon is another gem left behind by the Romans. Its construction was finished around the year 126 AD, during the reign of Hadrian (117–138).

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Pantheon - Nowadays the temple is one of most visited sights in Rome, and one of the oldest and best-preserved in the world.

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Theaters - The policy of assimilating conquered people into Roman culture meant the building of Roman theaters, circuses, amphitheaters, forums, and temples throughout the Roman territory.

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Forum - Monuments can be found throughout the former Roman territories, but the greatest examples are in Rome, Italy. The Roman Forum is one of the most impressive examples left behind by the Empire.

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Roads - With the expansion of the Empire and the conquering of new territories, the Romans had to build roads that linked Rome to these new places.

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Roads - Despite the passing of time, some Roman roads are still intact. This is where the saying 'all roads lead to Rome' comes from.

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Bridges - The Romans built the first large bridges, and are among the most sturdy and long-lasting bridges in the world. Built out of stone, they have recognizable features of the period's architecture, such as the arches.

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Aqueducts - Romans didn't invent the arches, but they sure perfected them. There are many aqueducts left over from the Roman era that are still standing and well preserved.

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Aqueducts - The Romans built the aqueducts to transport water into cities.

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Baths - Thermal baths had various uses, being used as meeting places, as well as for preserving body hygiene, and therapeutic purposes thanks to the medicinal properties of the waters.

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Baths - Some of the most famous baths are located in Bath, in the county of Somerset, UK. There is a vast network of Roman baths here.

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Architecture - The Roman influence on architecture was such that lots of homes, churches, temples, theaters, and palaces share lots of design details.

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Laws and legal codes - To manage their giant empire, order needed to be maintained in cities. The Romans developed laws which led to the Roman legal system.

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Laws and legal system - The laws came about as a solution to the problems created by disputes between social groups and wars of conquest. It was a way to organize and maintain stability in the empire.

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Paintings - The best example of paintings left behind by the Romans can be found in the city of Pompeii.

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Paintings - However, in reality, the amount of paintings still left behind is a tiny fraction of the amount of work produced during the Roman Empire.

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Religion - Ancient Rome contributed to the spread of Christianity despite originally persecuting Christians.

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Religion - Most of the Bible was written during the reign of the Roman Empire.

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Phrases - The Roman legacy can also be seen in popular sayings, such as: "There is no accounting for taste" and "in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king."

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Legacy -

The Romans left behind such an influence on humanity that it's difficult to fathom, and despite the end of the empire being so long ago, its legacy is just as important today as ever.

See also: The Swiss Guard: from feared mercenaries to protectors of the Pope

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