What is so ancient about Rome? If you think about it, that is a great question. The only factor that keeps Rome “ancient” is the fact that it thrived and fell a long time ago. However, if you ignore the time ancient Rome existed, it is easy to see how Rome has never really disappeared. Traces of Rome can be seen anywhere you look, from the government to the garden. When you really think about it, Rome never died, never really disappeared.
For instance, ancient Rome affected our government in a large way. From the idea of vetoing to the Senate and its jobs, it is thanks to Rome that our government is what it is today. Romans had two groups of people: the Patricians and the Plebians. The Patricians were the wealthy class of people; the people who had the most rights; the people who were elected to be in the government. The Plebians were the lover class of people; the people who did not have all the rights; the people who were not elected into office, or have land, or money. The Patricians made all the rules, and the Plebians had to follow them. For fifteen years the Plebians lived under the heels of the Patricians, until one day they decided to rebel. This was called the Struggle of the Orders; a time when the Plebians and the Patricians argued over the where the power was to be held; in whose hands. Finally, the Patricians relented, giving the Plebians representatives in the Senate, and also giving one Plebian the right to veto any law that came his way. All laws were forced to be run by this Plebian before becoming laws, and the Plebian had the right to veto any one of his choosing.
This is a pretty high power, and it is thanks to the Romans and their Struggle of the Orders that we now have the idea for this vetoing power. However, instead of giving it to a representative in our Senate, we give this power to our president: the President of the United States.
We also get the idea of the power to give to the Senate thanks to the Romans. The Romans used their Senate to handle all public money, i.e. they handled all returns that were brought into the treasury, and also the payments issued from it. The Senate of Rome also adjusted all disputes between people, determined how ambassadors coming into the country would be treated, and had other responsibilities too.
Our Senate has similar responsibilities when it comes to the country’s money, as well as additional responsibilities. However, our Senate enforces laws for bills that may or may not be passed, which is different from deciding on the treatment of visiting ambassadors.
As you can plainly see, the Senate of the United States gets ideas from the Republic of ancient Rome. These are only two of many more. The United States is not the only country who has a Senate like ancient Rome, either. Australia, the UK, France, each country has some type of Senate-like part in their government, which could have possibly evolved from Roman ideas.
Ancient Rome also affected literature, astrology, education, mathematics, arts science, philosophy; a variety of things. Architecture was something affected greatly by ancient Rome. Columns to support buildings, the first examples of apartment buildings, and the circus: all of these are examples of Roman firsts that we still see today. The circus may have been an extension of the Roman Amphitheater, and some columns were not originally thought of by the Romans; the Romans may have simply extended the idea. Other ideas by the Romans, such as apartment buildings, were Roman ideas alone.
Think about it: we see Roman architecture everywhere. Maybe we don’t recognize it, because we see it all the time. We don’t think about how much we are influenced by Roman culture. We see apartment buildings everywhere, and don’t even bat an eye. We see columns on houses, museums, statues, and don’t even think twice about it. But if we really start to think, we see that our culture is dominated by Roman architecture.
The Romans not only came up with columns, circuses, and apartment buildings, but they also came up with the Triumphal arch. This is an arc that announces the arrival or entrance to a specific place. This is one Roman invention that did not seem to have any other purpose than to show the entrance, something different than the usual Roman inventions that were made for a specific purpose. We can see arcs like this in many places, announcing the entrance to an amusement park, museum; they were even used in the Holocaust, announcing the entrance to a concentration camp. People everywhere around the globe are using this arc.
Romans also created the great baths, which are something that we do not use today. However, the baths are still in Rome, and visitors to Rome come from all around to see them in their glory.
Lastly, we can see the effects of ancient Rome in gardens today. Romans had courtyard and kitchen gardens, but they are well known for the pleasure gardens that they created, using them for relaxation and rejuvenation. These gardens were also used for and centered on entertainment; they were a place to take guests. These gardens had many beautiful features and views. Roman pleasure gardens had a transition element from the kitchen to the garden, an element such as marble. They also contained a low dining area; low tables and couches. Other elements included a terraced section, an orchard or a vineyard, maybe both, and a kitchen garden for herbs and vegetables. These are only a few elements of a Roman pleasure garden, and they are so beautiful that we still see people using them today. As it is plainly seen, ancient Rome rubbed off more than a little on people today. From government to architecture to gardens, ideas from Rome are used all over the world today, and will be used far into the future.
Web Citations:
1. "Ancient History Sourcebook: Polybius : Rome at the End of the Punic Wars [History, Book 6]."FORDHAM.EDU. Web. 08 Mar. 2010. . http://www.fordham.edu/HALSALL/ANCIENT/polybius6.html
2. "Architecture in Ancient Rome." Truly Rome Apartments in Rome. Web. 08 Mar. 2010. . http://www.mariamilani.com/ancient_rome/rome_art_architecture.htm
3. "Elements of a Roman-Style Pleasure Garden | Italy." Life in Italy | Italy. Web. 08 Mar. 2010. . http://www.lifeinitaly.com/garden/roman-garden.asp
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