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Latin or Roman script, is a writing system used to write many modern-day languages. It is the most used writing system in the world today. It is the official script for nearly all the languages of Western Europe and of some Eastern European languages. It is also used by some non-European languages such as Turkish, Vietnamese, Malay language, Somali, Swahili and Tagalog. It is an alternative writing system for languages such as Hindi, Urdu, Serbian and Bosnian.

The alphabet is a writing system which evolved from a western variety of the Greek alphabet. It was the Etruscans who first developed it after borrowing the Greek alphabet, and the Romans developed it further. The sounds of some letters changed, some letters were lost and gained and several writing styles ('hands') developed. Two such styles were combined into one script with upper and lower case letters ('capitals' and 'small letters'). Modern capital letters differ only slightly from their Roman counterparts. There are few regional variations.

Letters of the alphabet

Original Latin alphabet

The Latin alphabet used by the Romans:

Latin name ( IPA):

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New alphabet

The modern version of the alphabet is used for writing many languages. Indo-European languages, especially those of Western Europe, are mostly written with the Latin alphabet. These languages include the Germanic languages (which includes English, German, Swedish, and others) and the Romance languages (which includes French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and others). There are of course Indo-European languages that do not use the Latin alphabet, like Greek and Russian, as well as non-Indo-European languages that do, like Vietnamese.

Nearly all languages using the Roman alphabet include diacritics, which are symbols found above or below the letters. They are used for things such as tones and pronunciation. English is the only major European language that does not have any of these marks, at least not for native words. Words taken from other languages sometimes use diacritics to make clear the correct pronunciation.

The basic alphabet uses the following letters:

Other versions

The Roman script has fewer letters than the sounds in some of the languages that use it. Some languages make up for the lack of letters by using diacritic marks, such as ă, â, á, é, í, î, ó, ẹ, ị, ọ, ụ, ã, ả, ẻ, ỉ, ỏ, ủ, ñ, č, ď, ě, í, ň, ř, š, ș, ť, ț, ú, ů, ž and đ. In effect, this increases the number of letters in their alphabet. Languages which use some of these characters are French, Czech, Polish, Magyar (Hungarian), Romanian, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Esperanto, and Igbo.

Many languages changed their writing systems to the Latin script. In some countries, Europeans made native people use it. The Vietnamese language was written in Chinese characters, and there is a Chinese-based Vietnamese writing system called chu nom. The problem with Chinese script is the large number of characters which must be learnt before a person is truly literate. The Vietnamese government switched to the Latin alphabet in the early 20th century so they could increase the country's literacy rates. The Vietnamese kept using the Latin alphabet even after independence since it was much faster to learn than Chinese characters (chu nom).

After World War I, when the Ottoman Empire fell, the Latin Alphabet in Turkish countries was started by Kemal Atatürk in Turkey. When the Soviet Union broke up, some of its smaller languages began using the Latin alphabet. It is now used in Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan. Kazakhstan announced in 2018 that the Latin alphabet would become the Kazakh language's main writing system.

Changing the way a language is written to Latin letters is called romanization. Many people who do not speak the language read a romanized version to know roughly how the words will sound, even if that is not the normal way to write the language. Some languages, like Chinese and Japanese, use the Latin alphabet in their languages so that they can be typed on a computer more easily. In mainland China, pinyin is the official romanization for Mandarin Chinese, and it is used to type Chinese characters on the computer by typing them phonetically. Even though many Japanese computers have kana keyboards to type Japanese on the computer, Japanese can also be typed using the Latin alphabet. Software called IME (input method editor) converts the Latin letters, called romaji in Japanese, into Japanese kana and kanji.

Images for kids

The Duenos inscription from the 6th century BC. It shows the earliest known Old Latin alphabet

The distribution of the Latin script. The dark green areas show the countries where the Latin script is the sole main script. Light green shows countries where Latin co-exists with other scripts. Latin-script alphabets are sometimes extensively used in areas coloured grey due to the use of unofficial second languages, such as French in Algeria and English in Egypt, and to Latin transliteration of the official script, such as pinyin in China.

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Latin or Roman script, is a writing system used to write many modern-day languages. It is the most used writing system in the world today. It is the official script for nearly all the languages of Western Europe and of some Eastern European languages.

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ROMAN EMPIRE | Educational Video for Kids.

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From the obvious (architecture and hygiene) to the more unusual (fast food and advertising) the Romans have left their mark across the country.

We asked two of our experts, English Heritage Properties Curator Mark Douglas and Curator of Roman Collections Frances McIntosh, to explain more about what things in modern Britain we owe to the influence of the Roman Empire.

"The Romans were great trend-setters of the ancient world - what they didn't invent they copied and adapted from others, transporting new ideas across the empire," explains Mark. "Their impact can be seen across England, from Dover to Hadrian's Wall and beyond, and has had a profound impact on our modern landscape and culture."

It might seem a modern marvel, but the Romans were the first to introduce street stalls and 'food on the move' as we might think of it today. With 10,000 soldiers in Britain, based at forts such as Birdoswald, having access to tasty, convenient food (like burgers...) was vitally important and vendors serving fast food would have been commonplace in large towns. The Romans also introduced staple foods such as apples, pears and peas to Britain.
In the present day, we've recreated some of these Roman delicacies for you to sample. When exploring Birdoswald Roman Fort, why not try a Roman style burger in the café.
The modern concepts of Public Relations, Marketing and Advertising can all trace their roots back to the Romans. Traders would advertise their wares with billboards and signs, while self-promotion was a major concern to the emperor, who proclaimed his military victories on his coins. Potters would often stamp their vessels with their name, a mark of quality.
The Samian bowl was made in South Gaul and dates to c. AD 70 - 85 AD. The maker's mark inside (inset) reads 'OF CEN'.
OF is the abbreviation for Officina, a workshop. CEN is an abbreviation of a name, possibly Censorinus. The latrines at Housesteads Roman Fort on Hadrian's Wall are some of the best preserved Roman toilets in the country.
Keeping towns and forts clean through drainage and access to fresh water was a new concept to Britain. At the root of sanitation was the great engineering works of the Romans, with aqueducts bringing water in and drains to keep the streets and houses clean. The remains of Roman toilets and bath complexes can be seen across the forts of Hadrian's Wall, especially at Chesters and Housesteads.

Large settlements existed in Britain before the Romans arrived, but they were the first to introduce significant 'towns' and administrative centres, which were planned out.
Aerial view of Corbridge Roman Town from the east
Londinium, Aqua Sulis (Bath) and Lindum colonia (Lincoln) are all examples of Romans towns that still exist as modern towns, whilst Coria ( Corbridge) and Isurium Brigantium ( Aldborough) are Roman towns you can visit today.
The remains of Wroxeter Roman City are very well preserved
From military structures such as forts and walls (including the spectacular Hadrian's Wall) to engineering feats such as baths and aqueducts, the most obvious impact of the Romans that can still be seen today is their buildings. Most buildings in Iron Age Britain were made of timber and were often round in form. The Romans built in stone, in straight lines and in a grand scale.
The high street of Corbridge, which was the Stanegate and runs all the way to Carlisle.
Everyone knows the secret to a Roman road - build wide and straight, often with paved streets. Constructing reliable transport routes was a necessity of such an expansive empire, and a huge upgrade on the primitive routes that came before in Britain. Many, such as Watling Street (the A2 and A5) and Dere Street (A59 and A1 from York) still form the basis of routes used today.

The Julian calendar was the first to consist of 365 days, along with a leap year every four years. It forms the basis of the Gregorian calendar we use today. The names of the months derive from Roman months, reflecting the important Roman impact on our modern diaries. This is most obvious for July and August, which are named after the early rulers Julius Caesar and Emperor Augustus.
An example of a coin found at Richborough Roman Fort and Amphitheatre.
Although some of the tribes in the South of England produced coins before the Romans arrived, it was not used as currency, to purchase things. The Romans brought in their own coinage, which was the same across the Empire. A denarius minted in Rome could be spent in Britain, North Africa or Turkey, such a global currency has not been seen since.

The introduction of Latin had a profound impact on words and language within Britain. Latin became the language of religion, law and administration, and a great many modern words still derive from this language.
A Latin inscription at Chesters' Clayton Museum.
Did you know that plumbing is called this because the Romans made their pipes out of lead ( plumbum)? Or that the Latin word sinister meant left, which the Romans considered to be bad-luck.
An iron stylus, used for writing on wooden tablets filled with wax.
The introduction of writing to Britain had a huge impact on our understanding of the history. Being great record keepers has left a wealth of information about life in Roman Britain. The army in particular was extremely bureaucratic and rotas, food orders and stock checks of weapons, could be filled out in triplicate!

Although the Romans didn't have central heating, they did have ways other than fireplaces to keep themselves warm. Raised floors, laid on columns, or pilae, allowed hot air to circulate. Fires would be lit in stoke-holes, and voila, underfloor heating. In bath-houses gaps were even left when tiling a wall so that the walls would be heated too.
The remains of underfloor heating at Chesters Roman Fort.
An excellent examples of this type of hypocaust can be seen in the commanding officers house at Chesters Roman Fort and Museum, or alternatively at Housesteads Roman Fort.
The Bath House at Chesters Roman Fort is very well preserved.
Bathing was an extremely important part of Roman life. Going to the baths was as much as a social event as it was a way to get clean. They were also places for exercise, gambling and catching up on the gossip. With hot rooms, both dry and wet, cold plunge pools and warm baths, they continue on in our modern Turkish spas.
No list of this kind would be complete without Hadrian's Wall. This particular section lies near Birdoswald Roman Fort.
Stretching 73 miles across Britain from Wallsend in the East to Bowness-on-Solway in the West, this World Heritage Site is a reminder of the impact the Romans had on our landscape. Construction began in 122 AD on the order of Emperor Hadrian and took at least six years to complete. Originally standing 4.5m high, there are 16 forts, 80 milecastles and 160 turrets along its length.
Discover the story of Roman England.
Take a chronological journey through the key periods of Roman rule. Explore the Roman chapter in our Story of England series and see what else the Romans did for us.

Inspired to explore Roman England for yourselves? Visit the remains of the forts, towers, turrets and towns that once kept watch over Hadrian's Wall, and find out what life was like for the men, women and children on the edge of Roman Britain.

Find a Roman Site to Visit

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From the obvious (architecture and hygiene) to the more unusual (fast food and advertising) the Romans have left their mark across the country. We asked two of our experts, English Heritage Properties Curator Mark Douglas and Curator of Roman Collections Frances McIntosh, to explain more about what things in modern Britain we owe to the influence of the Roman Empire.

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The Fall of Rome

Most historians believe that the Roman Empire ceased to exist as an entity when Germanic leader Odoacer defeated the last Roman Emperor Romulus Augustus in 476 AD to become the first King of Italy.

However, some historians believe that the Roman Empire did not fall in 476 AD, as the Eastern Roman Empire continued to exist for another 1000 years after that.

The term 'Fall of the Roman Empire' usually refers to the fall of the Western Roman Empire. Roman Empire was, for almost 500 years, the world's greatest superpower. Its eventual demise is attributed to a number of different reasons.

Menace of Barbaric Tribes

Rome countered military adventures of barbaric tribes like Goths, Vandals, and Germans for many years and kept them under check. However, towards the last years of the empire military defeats against these tribes weakened the empire.

These tribes slowly and gradually increased their spheres of influence inside the Roman territory and in 410 AD, Goths under the command of King Alaric ransacked the city of Rome.

It was eventually a Germanic military leader, Odoacer, who defeated the last western Roman Emperor, Romulus Augustus in 476 AD and became the King of Italy.

Dwindling Slave Trade

Roman society depended greatly on the slaves. These men and women not only served their masters in their homes but also worked in the fields, mines, and mills of the empire.

The Roman military was the largest source of acquiring these slaves and after every military victory; thousands of slaves were brought to the empire and sold off.

As the expansion of the Roman Empire ceased and the Roman military stopped wining conflicts against now stronger than ever foes, this supply of slaves dried up. This adversely affected the economy of Rome which was hugely dependent on the slave force.

This served as a crippling blow to the economy of Rome which was rocked by a sharp decrease in agricultural and industrial production.

Division of Empire

Roman Emperor Diocletian divided the empire in the eastern and western parts in 285 AD. The step was taken to make the administration easier.

It, however, created rift between the two parts and they frequently quarreled over resources, territories and military aid. The Eastern part was farther from troublesome Barbaric tribes and consequentially thrived under peaceful circumstances.

It grew more stable and economically sound. These internal problems weakened the empire, particularly the restive western part.

Weakened Roman Military

The Roman military was once famous for its discipline and efficacy in combat. Roman Empire owed its greatness to its legions that fought numerous wars and won them to expand the empire across Europe, Asia, and North Africa.

However, as the empire expanded, so did the demand for recruiting more soldiers.

This demand could not be met by recruiting Roman citizens only. Roman commanders had to recruit non-Romans like Gauls, Goths, Thracians, and Germans.

These non-Roman soldiers did not have any solid commitment to the empire and they often defied their superiors in battle. Their actions eroded the discipline of legions and their ability to win wars which contributed to the fall of the empire.

Rise of Christianity

The adoption of Christianity as the state religion in the late 4th century AD adversely affected the values on which the Roman Empire stood.

The ancient Roman religion viewed the emperor as having a divine stature. Christianity ended this and ended the obsession of people with state and empire.

Political Instability

Frequent internal conflicts and political instability weakened the empire from within.

The wars of succession pushed the empire into crisis. This instability gave enemies of the empire a chance to pursue their agenda and make territorial gains.Advertisement

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Most historians believe that the Roman Empire ceased to exist as an entity when Germanic leader Odoacer defeated the last Roman Emperor Romulus Augustus in 476 AD to become the first King of Italy. However, some historians believe that the Roman Empire did not fall in 476 AD, as the Eastern Roman Empire continued to ...

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Back to History for Kids
Ancient Rome was a powerful and important civilization that ruled much of Europe for nearly 1000 years. The culture of Ancient Rome was spread throughout Europe during its rule. As a result, Rome's culture still has an impact in the Western world today. The basis for much of Western culture comes from Ancient Rome, especially in areas such as government, engineering, architecture, language, and literature.

The city of Rome is the capital of Italy today
Map of Italy from the CIA World Factbook

The Roman Republic

Rome first grew into power as a Republic. This meant that Rome's leaders, such as senators, were elected officials that served for a limited amount of time, not kings who were born into leadership and ruled for life. They had a complex government with written laws, a constitution, and a balance of powers. These concepts became very important in forming future democratic governments, like the United States.

The Republic would rule Rome for hundreds of years from around 509 BC to 45 BC.

The Roman Empire

In 45 BC Julius Caesar took over the Roman Republic and made himself the supreme dictator. This was the end of the republic. A few years later, in 27 BC, Caesar Augustus became the first Roman Emperor and this was the start of the Roman Empire. Much of the lower level government stayed the same, but now the Emperor had supreme power.

The Roman Forum was the center of government
Photo by Adrian Pingstone

The Empire Splits

As the Roman Empire grew it became more and more difficult to manage from the city of Rome. Eventually the Roman leaders decided to split Rome into two empires. One was the Western Roman Empire and was ruled out of the city of Rome. The other was the Eastern Roman Empire and was ruled out of Constantinople (today's Istanbul in Turkey). The Eastern Roman Empire would become known as Byzantium or theByzantine Empire.

Fall of Rome

The fall of Rome generally refers to the fall of the Western Roman Empire. It fell in 476 AD. The Eastern Roman Empire, or the Byzantine Empire, would rule parts of Eastern Europe for another 1000 years.

Interesting Facts about Ancient Rome

The city of Rome is the capital of Italy today. It sits on the same site as the city of ancient Rome. If you were to visit Rome you could see many of the original ancient buildings such as the Colosseum and the Roman Forum.

The Circus Maximus, a huge stadium built for chariot races, could seat around 150,000 people.

The fall of Western Rome is considered the start of the "Dark Ages" in Europe.

The highest position in the Roman Republic was the consul. There were two consuls at the same time to make sure that one didn't become too powerful.

The native language of the Romans was Latin, but they often spoke Greek as well.

When Julius Caesar took power he named himself dictator for life. However, this didn't last long as he was assassinated a year later.

Recommended books and references:

Nature Company Discoveries library: Ancient Rome by Judith Simpson. 1997.

Exploring the culture, people & ideas of this powerful empire by Avery Hart & Sandra Gallagher ; illustrations by Michael Kline. 2002.

Eyewitness Books: Ancient Rome written by Simon James. 2004.

Activities

Take a ten questionquiz about this page.
Ancient Rome crossword puzzle
Ancient Rome word search

Listen to a recorded reading of this page:

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Back to History for Kids

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Kids learn about the civilization and history of Ancient Rome including the Roman Republic, Empire, art, religion, army, daily life, people, Senate, and the fall of Rome. Educational articles for students, schools, and teachers.

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The Origins of the Roman Empire | Kids Videos

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Roman Numerals | Learn about Roman Numerals

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Ancient Rome for Kids: Romulus and Remus

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Kids learn about Romulus and Remus the legendary twin brothers who founded the city of Ancient Rome.

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Friday, July 6, 2018

Ancient Rome had a large influence on the modern world. Though it has been thousands of years since the Roman Empire flourished, we can still see evidence of it in our art, architecture, technology, literature, language, and law. From bridges and stadiums to books and the words we hear every day, the ancient Romans have left their mark on our world.
Art and Architecture
Ancient Romans have had a tremendous impact on art and architecture. We can find traces of Roman influence in forms and structures throughout the development of Western culture.

Although the Romans were heavily influenced by ancient Greece, they were able to make improvements to certain borrowed Greek designs and inventions. For example, they continued the use of columns, but the form became more decorative and less structural in Roman buildings. Ancient Romans created curved roofs and large-scale arches, which were able to support more weight than the post-and-beam construction the Greeks used. These arches served as the foundation for the massive bridges and aqueducts the Romans created. The game-loving ancients also built large amphitheaters, including the Colosseum. The sports stadiums we see today, with their oval shapes and tiered seating, derive from the basic idea the Romans developed.

The arches of the Colosseum are made out of cement, a remarkably strong building material the Romans made with what they had at hand: volcanic ash and volcanic rock. Modern scientists believe that the use of this ash is the reason that structures like the Colosseum still stand today. Roman underwater structures proved to be even sturdier. Seawater reacting with the volcanic ash created crystals that filled in the cracks in the concrete. To make a concrete this durable, modern builders must reinforce it with steel. So today, scientists study Roman concrete, hoping to match the success of the ancient master builders.

Sculptural art of the period has proven to be fairly durable, too. Romans made their statues out of marble, fashioning monuments to great human achievements and achievers. You can still see thousands of Roman artifacts today in museums all over the world.
Technology and Science
Ancient Romans pioneered advances in many areas of science and technology, establishing tools and methods that have ultimately shaped the way the world does certain things.

The Romans were extremely adept engineers. They understood the laws of physics well enough to develop aqueducts and better ways to aid water flow. They harnessed water as energy for powering mines and mills. They also built an expansive road network, a great achievement at the time. Their roads were built by laying gravel and then paving with rock slabs. The Roman road system was so large, it was said that "all roads lead to Rome."

Along with large-scale engineering projects, the Romans also developed tools and methods for use in agriculture. The Romans became successful farmers due to their knowledge of climate, soil, and other planting-related subjects. They developed or refined ways to effectively plant crops and to irrigate and drain fields. Their techniques are still used by modern farmers, such as crop rotation, pruning, grafting, seed selection, and manuring. The Romans also used mills to process their grains from farming, which improved their efficiency and employed many people.
Literature and Language
Much of the literature of the world has been greatly influenced by the literature of the ancient Romans. During what is considered the "Golden Age of Roman Poetry," poets such as Virgil, Horace, and Ovid produced works that have had an everlasting impact. Ovid's Metamorphoses, for example, inspired authors such as Chaucer, Milton, Dante, and Shakespeare. Shakespeare, in particular, was fascinated by the ancient Romans, who served as the inspiration for some of his plays, including Julius Caesar and Antony and Cleopatra.

While Roman literature had a deep impact on the rest of the world, it is important to note the impact that the Roman language has had on the Western world. Ancient Romans spoke Latin, which spread throughout the world with the increase of Roman political power. Latin became the basis for a group of languages referred to as the "Romance languages." These include French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, and Catalan. Many Latin root words are also the foundation for many English words. The English alphabet is based on the Latin alphabet. Along with that, a lot of Latin is still used in the present-day justice system.
Law
The use of Latin words is not the only way the ancient Romans have influenced the Western justice system. Although the Roman justice system was extremely harsh in its punishments, it did serve as a rough outline of how court proceedings happen today. For example, there was a preliminary hearing, much like there is today, where the magistrate decided whether or not there was actually a case. If there were grounds for a case, a prominent Roman citizen would try the case, and witnesses and evidence would be presented. Roman laws and their court system have served as the foundation for many countries' justice systems, such as the United States and much of Europe.

The ancient Romans helped lay the groundwork for many aspects of the modern world. It is no surprise that a once-booming empire was able to impact the world in so many ways and leave a lasting legacy behind.

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Traces of Ancient Rome in the Modern World

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Friday, July 6, 2018 Ancient Rome had a large influence on the modern world. Though it has been thousands of years since the Roman Empire flourished, we can still see evidence of it in our art, architecture, technology, literature, language, and law.

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Legacy of Rome
The civilization of Ancient Rome had a lasting legacy on world history. Not only did Ancient Rome cover a vast amount of land at its peak, but it also existed for almost 1000 years. The legacy of Ancient Rome is still felt today in western culture in areas such as government, law, language, architecture, engineering, and religion.

Government

Many modern-day governments are modeled after the Roman Republic. Concepts such as balance of powers, veto, and representation all were developed and recorded by the Romans.

The United States has three branches of government similar to the Roman Republic. TheExecutive Branch (President) is similar to the elected consuls of Rome. The Legislative Branch (Congress) is similar to the Roman assemblies (like the Senate). Finally, the Judicial Branch is similar to the Praetors of Rome. The U.S. even named one house of Congress, the Senate, after the Senate of Rome.

Law

Roman law had a significant influence over the modern-day laws of many countries. Legal ideas liketrial by jury, civil rights, contracts, personal property, legal wills, and corporations all were influenced by Roman law and the Roman way of looking at things.

Language

The Latin language spoken by the Romans spread throughout much of Western Europe during the time of the Roman Empire. Many languages evolved from Latin. These languages are called the "Romance languages." They include French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and Romanian. Around 800 million people around the world speak a Romance language today.

Architecture

The buildings and architecture of Ancient Rome still influences many building designs today. The neoclassical architecture movement of the 18th century was a return to many of the ideas of the Romans. You can see the influence of Roman architecture in government buildings, large banks, and even some famous buildings like the United States Capitol Building.

Engineering and Construction

The Romans changed the western world by spreading their innovations in engineering throughout the empire. They built long lasting roads that helped to increase trade and also helped their armies to quickly move about the empire. Many of these roads are still used today. The Romans were also known for their public projects. They built aqueducts to bring water into the cities for all to use. They also built public buildings like bath houses. To build many of these projects the Romans perfected concrete. Roman concrete allowed them to build strong and durable buildings at a lower cost than stone.

Christianity

The latter part of the Roman Empire had a great impact on religion in Europe through the spread of Christianity. Rome was the home of the Catholic Church which would hold great influence over Europe for the next thousand years. Today, Christianity is the largest religion in the world.

Interesting Facts About the Legacy of Ancient Rome

The Roman alphabet is used by many languages around the world including the Romance languages and English. It was first developed by the Etruscans.

The Renaissance was a time when the art and ideas of Ancient Rome and Greece were rediscovered after the Middle Ages.

Roman numerals are sometimes still used today. The number of the NFL Super Bowl was written using Roman numerals up until Super Bowl 50, which is written as "50" rather than the Roman number "L."

Latin terms are still commonly used in science, medicine, and law.

Many words in the English language were influenced by Latin and have Latin roots.

Activities

Take a ten question quiz about this page.

Listen to a recorded reading of this page:

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Works Cited

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Kids learn about the legacy of Ancient Rome including influences on modern-day government, law, languages, alphabet, architecture, engineering, religion, and fun facts.

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Colosseum History, Facts and Secrets - Fun Facts for Kids | Educational Videos by Mocomi

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Math Roman numerals for kids. Learn how they work, terms, tricks and examples.

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Romulus and Remus

Background: Romulus and Remus are the two legendary characters that are associated with the myth regarding establishment of Roman civilization. The legend has it that they were twin brothers, born to Rhea Silvia, daughter of Numitor, who was the king of Alba Longa (present day central Italy). Numitor was deposed by his brother, Amulius and all his male heirs were killed.

Silvia conceived twins (Romulus and Remus) by god of war, Mars. According to Roman mythology, they were abandoned as infants and a series of miracles helped them survive. They were suckled by a she-wolf, fed by a woodpecker and raised by a shepherd and his wife. They initially remained unaware of their background but later on found out the truth. After fighting Amulius and killing him they restored their grandfather, Numitor to the throne and then decide to found their own city.

Dispute over Selection of Site: The two brothers went about selecting a site for their proposed city and soon entered dispute over the selection of the site. The dispute was over selecting one of the Seven Hills of Rome for the purpose of starting the construction of the city. While Romulus wanted to use Palatine Hill, Remus was adamant to select Aventine Hill. The two brothers decided to resolve the dispute through augury (interpreting divine will by studying flight of birds). However, the two brothers disagreed over the interpretation of augury as well.

Murder of Remus: After failing to reach consensus, both of them went about constructing their own city at different locations. Romulus constructed a wall around his city. Remus, one day made fun of Romulus' wall and leapt over it to insult the wall and Romulus. Romulus in a fit of rage killed his brother and later regretted his actions. Some historians believe that Remus was not killed by Romulus. They hold Fabius, one of Romulus' commanders, responsible for killing Remus.

Establishing Rome: Romulus established the city and named it 'Rome', after himself. He welcomed settlers from all backgrounds and did not differentiate between slaves and freedmen. The population of city grew and soon the city was expanded to cover five of the seven hills, including Aventine Hill, which was selected by Remus. Romulus established military, judiciary and senate of Rome. Senators worked as his advisors. The early population was mostly men and there were not enough marriageable women in Rome.

Romulus abducted young women of neighboring Sabines and Latins for the purpose, which resulted in a war between Romans and Sabines. The war ended in a stalemate and Romulus agreed to rule jointly with Sabine King Titus Tatius. Romulus also accepted 100 Sabine elders into his senate. Romulus and Titus jointly ruled for five years. After the assassination of Titus, Romulus ruled solely. Romulus waged wars for two decades and expanded the territories of Rome. After his grandfather died, he took over Alba Longa as well and incorporated it as a part of Rome.

Death: Plutarch has mentioned that Romulus was in his fifty fourth year when he died or disappeared and he ruled for thirty seven years. This essentially means that he was only seventeen years old when he founded Rome. According to legend Romulus vanished into a storm or a whirlwind after offering a public sacrifice near Quirinal Hill. Some sources state that Roman senate had him killed to gain power, which was not possible under his rule. Roman senate however, decided to accord divine status to Romulus by declaring him an exalted being who was not dead but had translated to a higher state of being.

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Background: Romulus and Remus are the two legendary characters that are associated with the myth regarding establishment of Roman civilization. The legend has it that they were twin brothers, born to Rhea Silvia, daughter of Numitor, who was the king of Alba Longa (present day central Italy).

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Legacy of Rome
The civilization of Ancient Rome had a lasting legacy on world history. Not only did Ancient Rome cover a vast amount of land at its peak, but it also existed for almost 1000 years. The legacy of Ancient Rome is still felt today in western culture in areas such as government, law, language, architecture, engineering, and religion.

Government

Many modern-day governments are modeled after the Roman Republic. Concepts such as balance of powers, veto, and representation all were developed and recorded by the Romans.

The United States has three branches of government similar to the Roman Republic. TheExecutive Branch (President) is similar to the elected consuls of Rome. The Legislative Branch (Congress) is similar to the Roman assemblies (like the Senate). Finally, the Judicial Branch is similar to the Praetors of Rome. The U.S. even named one house of Congress, the Senate, after the Senate of Rome.

Law

Roman law had a significant influence over the modern-day laws of many countries. Legal ideas liketrial by jury, civil rights, contracts, personal property, legal wills, and corporations all were influenced by Roman law and the Roman way of looking at things.

Language

The Latin language spoken by the Romans spread throughout much of Western Europe during the time of the Roman Empire. Many languages evolved from Latin. These languages are called the "Romance languages." They include French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and Romanian. Around 800 million people around the world speak a Romance language today.

Architecture

The buildings and architecture of Ancient Rome still influences many building designs today. The neoclassical architecture movement of the 18th century was a return to many of the ideas of the Romans. You can see the influence of Roman architecture in government buildings, large banks, and even some famous buildings like the United States Capitol Building.

Engineering and Construction

The Romans changed the western world by spreading their innovations in engineering throughout the empire. They built long lasting roads that helped to increase trade and also helped their armies to quickly move about the empire. Many of these roads are still used today. The Romans were also known for their public projects. They built aqueducts to bring water into the cities for all to use. They also built public buildings like bath houses. To build many of these projects the Romans perfected concrete. Roman concrete allowed them to build strong and durable buildings at a lower cost than stone.

Christianity

The latter part of the Roman Empire had a great impact on religion in Europe through the spread of Christianity. Rome was the home of the Catholic Church which would hold great influence over Europe for the next thousand years. Today, Christianity is the largest religion in the world.

Interesting Facts About the Legacy of Ancient Rome

The Roman alphabet is used by many languages around the world including the Romance languages and English. It was first developed by the Etruscans.

The Renaissance was a time when the art and ideas of Ancient Rome and Greece were rediscovered after the Middle Ages.

Roman numerals are sometimes still used today. The number of the NFL Super Bowl was written using Roman numerals up until Super Bowl 50, which is written as "50" rather than the Roman number "L."

Latin terms are still commonly used in science, medicine, and law.

Many words in the English language were influenced by Latin and have Latin roots.

Activities

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Kids learn about the legacy of Ancient Rome including influences on modern-day government, law, languages, alphabet, architecture, engineering, religion, and fun facts.

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Ready for a journey back in time? Here at Nat Geo Kids, we're about to get the lowdown on this amazing civilisation with our fab facts about the Romans!
Article continues below...

Facts about the Romans

1) Rome was founded in 753BC by its first king, Romulus. It grew into a rich and powerful city during the next few hundred years.

2) By AD 117 the Roman Empire included the whole of Italy, all the lands around the Mediterranean and much of Europe, including England, Wales and parts of Scotland.

Did you know that we have a FREE downloadable Romans primary resource? Great for teachers, homeschoolers and parents alike!

3) Roman legend says that Romulus had a twin brother called Remus. As babies they were abandoned in the area which later became Rome. A she-wolf found and raised them, but when they grew up, Romulus fought and killed Remus and became the first ruler of Rome!

4) The Romans built such a huge empire and conquered new lands, thanks to their strong army. The Roman army could march up to 40km a day!

5) During battle, a Roman soldier or 'legionary' first hurled his spear at the enemy, then he fought him with his sword. To protect himself, he carried a wooden shield and wore a metal helmet and armour.

6) The Romans didn't spend all their time fighting - they were amazing architects and engineers too! They built roads and walls - things we now take for granted.

7) To bring water to their cities, the clever Romans built aqueducts - a system of channels and bridges - to transport water for public baths and toilets!

8) The Romans liked to enjoy their food, often lying down on a couch while eating with their hands. They occasionally used a spoon, but they would never use a knife and fork. Rich Romans liked to eat exotic food, such as stork, roast parrot and even flamingo!

9) The Romans believed in gods and goddesses who ruled over different areas of life. For example, Neptune was the god of the ocean, and they prayed to him to protect them at sea. Temples were built to honour the gods, and people would visit them with offerings.

10) One of the most famous buildings left by the Ancient Romans is the Colosseum - a huge ampitheatre in the centre of Rome. This is where members of the public would come to watch sporting events and games, including battles between Roman gladiators!

11) Tunics - two pieces of woollen fabric sewn together at the sides and shoulders, with openings for your arms and head - were the most common clothes in Rome. Some Romans also wore togas - a kind of woollen shawl - to show how wealthy they were.

Love learning about Rome? Check out even more amazing facts about Italy, here!

Photos: Getty Images UK

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10 facts about the Ancient Romans | National Geographic Kids

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Join us here at Nat Geo Kids as we check out 10 top facts about the Romans! Discover when Rome was founded, what the Romans built, what they wore & more...

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Ancient Rome was one mighty powerful empire and the Romans ruled over most of Europe for nearly 1,000 years!

Here we take a look at this mighty city and give you some history and interesting, fun facts to understand what it's all about.

The Roman Republic

Rome first grew into power as a Republic. A Republic basically means that the leaders were elected into power and would serve for a certain period of time.

This is very unlike kings, who were born into leadership and then ruled for life.

The Republic ruled Rome for hundreds of years from around 509 BC to 45 BC.

The Roman Empire

In 45 BC Julius Caesar took over the Roman Republic and made himself the high and mighty supreme dictator. That was the end of the republic.

A few years later, in 27 BC, Caesar Augustus became the first Roman Emperor and this was when the Roman Empire began.

The lower levels of government pretty much stayed the same, except now the emperor had all the power.

The Empire Splits

The Roman Empire grew and grew and grew, and as it did the city of Rome became very difficult to manage. So what did they do? Well, they literally split Rome into two empires.

One was the Western Roman Empire and was ruled out of the city of Rome and the other was the Eastern Roman Empire and was ruled out of Constantinople, which is what we now know as Istanbul in Turkey.

The Eastern Roman Empire became known as Byzantium.

Fall of Rome

When we talk about the fall of Rome, it generally means the fall of the Western Roman Empire, which happened in 476 AD.

The Eastern Roman Empire, or the Byzantine Empire, still carried on ruling parts of Eastern Europe for another 1000 years.

The Major Events in the History of Ancient Rome

Here we take a look at some of the really important historical events that make up the history of Ancient Rome. We hope you find this interesting!

753 BC - The amazing city of Rome was founded. There is a legend that Romulus and Remus - the twin sons of Mars (the god of war) - founded the city.

Romulus killed Remus and became ruler of Rome and named the city after himself. Can you imagine killing your own brother? How cruel!

Rome was ruled by kings for the next 240 years.

509 BC - Rome became a republic as the last king was overthrown.

364 BC - In the Battle of Cynoscephalae the Roman Legion was under Titus Flamininus who defeated the Macedonian Army.

It was an important battle because the successors of the Greek leader Alexander the Great had now been defeated. Rome had become the dominant world power.

264 - 241 BC - This was the time of the first Punic War which was fought over the island of Sicily. This meant a lot of the fighting was at sea where Carthage had a much stronger navy than Rome.

However, Rome quickly built up a large navy of over 100 ships and went on to win the war.

- Hannibal invaded Italy and led his army in the famous crossing of the Alps to attack Rome. This was part of the Second Punic war.

149 - 146 BC - This was the time of the Third Punic War where Rome attacked the city of Carthage. After three years the Roman army broke through the walls and burned the city to the ground.

73 BC - Spartacus the gladiator led the slaves in an uprising.

55 BC - Julius Caesar invaded Britain but wasn't very successful. A year later, he went back with a large force of Roman legions. He succeeded and invaded most of Britain and even crossed the River Thames.

Caesar left peacefully when the tribes of Britain paid tribute to Rome.

45 BC - Julius Caesar became the first dictator of Rome. He made his famous Crossing of the Rubicon, defeated Pompey in a civil war, and became the supreme ruler of Rome.
Then the Roman Republic ended, just like that.
44 BC - Julius Caesar was assassinated by a man called Marcus Brutus and others. He wanted Rome to be a Republic again, but war broke out instead.

31 BC - In the Battle of Actium Octavian's forces, defeated the combined forces of Roman general Marc Antony and Egyptian Pharaoh Cleopatra VII.

Octavian then went on to become the sole power in Rome and was soon Rome's first Emperor.

27 BC - The famous Caesar Augustus became the first Roman Emperor and so the Roman Empire was born.

43 AD - The Romans conquered Britain under the rule of Emperor Claudius. He'd decided he wanted to be famous. It took around 30 years for Rome to gain control of the southern part of the island.

50 AD - The Romans also established the city of Londinium, which later became London. They built roads throughout England and the city became an important trade center.

64 AD - Most or Rome burnt down. How sad. Legend has it that Emperor Nero watched the city burn while playing a lyre (which was a type of harp). He obviously wasn't too bothered about it!

80 AD - The Colosseum was built and is still famous today. It could fit 50,000 people seated inside. Wow.

121 AD - Hadrian's Wall in northern England was built to keep out the barbarians by Roman Emperor Hadrian. The wall was 73 miles (117 kilometers) long. Wow.

It is estimated that more than 10,000 troops manned the wall at some point.

306 AD - Constantine becomes Emperor and his mission was to convert Rome to be a Christian society. Before he came along Christians were persecuted.

395 AD - This is when Rome split into the two different empires.

410 AD - The Visigoths sacked Rome and it was the first time in 800 years that the city had been conquered by enemies. They were clearly very strong.

- This was when the Western Roman Empire fell as well as Ancient Rome. The last Roman Emperor Romulus Augustus was defeated by the German Goth Odoacer. This was the start of the Dark Ages in Europe.

1453 AD - The Byzantine Empire comes to an end as it falls to the Ottoman Empire.

Who were the leaders of the Roman Republic?

We've mentioned that the Roman Republic had a number of elected leaders and officials. There were lots of different levels of leadership and the Roman Government was pretty complicated.

Here we take a look at who did what!

Consuls - They were right at the top of the ruling chain and were very important and powerful people.

To make sure that no king or dictator came into power, there were always two consuls elected and they only served for one year. Clever cats they were.

And on top of that, if the consuls disagreed with each other, they could make sure something didn't happen.

They had heaps of power; they decided when to go to war, how much tax to collect and they also decided on the laws. Powerful indeed.

Senators - The Senate was a group of respected leaders who advised the consuls. The consuls usually did what the Senate recommended and these guys ruled for life.

Plebeian Council - The Plebeian Council was also called the People's Assembly. This was how the common people or plebeians as they were called, could elect their own leaders, magistrates, pass laws, and hold court.

Tribunes - Tribunes represented the Plebeian Council. They had the power to reject laws made by the Senate.

Governors - As Rome conquered new lands, they needed people to be local rulers. The Senate would then appoint a governor to rule the land or province. They were in charge of the local Roman army and also collected taxes.

Aedile - An Aedile was a city official who maintained public buildings and festivals.

If people wanted to go to the top of the ruling chain, (for example become a consul), they'd first become an aedile and hold massive festivals so they could become popular with the people. Sneaky.

Censor - The Censor counted how many citizens there were and kept all the records of this. They had some hand to make sure people were good and decent and public finances.

Were all people treated equally?

Definitely not, and it all had to do with how much money they had, whether they were male or female and their citizenship.

As an example, women weren't allowed to vote or hold a position of power. And the more money you had the more voting power you got.

The people in power were very rich and came from wealthy families. Although it sounds unfair, it was certainly better than other civilizations where average people had no say at all and in fact were treated really badly.

The Roman Army

When the Roman Empire ruled the Roman army was one of the most successful armies in world history; they were well trained, well equipped and very well organized.

Romans were well known for building good roads, and this is how the army would move about quickly.

As the army was so important they were given good armor, which were made from strong strips of iron, they had iron helmets to protect their heads and neck, but of course they could still see really well.

As you can imagine, this armor was super heavy, so they sure needed to be strong.

They also sometimes had tall shields. The soldiers had different types of weapons including daggers, swords, spears, javelins and bows and arrows.

When Rome was at the Peak of its Power

Rome reached its peak of power in the year 117 AD under the rule of the great Roman emperor Trajan. Almost the whole coastline along the Mediterranean Sea was part of the Roman Empire.

This included Spain, Italy, France, southern Britain, Turkey, Israel, Egypt, and northern Africa. That is a lot of land to rule over.

Gradual Decline

The Fall of Rome didn't happen in a day, it happened over a long period of time. There are a number of reasons why the empire began to fail, including the following:

The politicians and rulers of Rome became more and more corrupt.

Infighting and civil wars within the Empire.

Attacks from barbarian tribes outside of the empire.

The Roman army was no longer a dominant force.

The empire became so large it was difficult to govern.

What was a typical day like in Ancient Rome?

Well people would have a light breakfast and then head off to work. Work ended in the early afternoon and then loads of Romans would head off to the baths to socialize and of course get clean.

At around 3pm they would have dinner which was as much of a social event as a meal.

Ancient Roman Jobs

There were loads of jobs that people could have for example farmers, soldiers, merchants, craftsmen, entertainers, lawyers, teachers, engineers and of course they could have jobs in the government.

Roman Families

Family was very important to the Romans and the head of the family was the father, who had all the power legally. But the wives still had a strong say in what happened in the family and she ran the household and managed their finances.

What was school like?

Roman children started school at the age of 7 but wealthy children had full time tutors. Other children went to public school.

They studied subjects such as reading, writing, math, literature, and debate. School was mostly for boys but some of the wealthy girls were tutored at home. Poor children did not get to go to school.

Some Roman citizens became famous mathematicians and scientists, such as the great Archimedes.

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Ancient Rome Facts Ancient Rome was one mighty powerful empire and the Romans ruled over most of Europe for nearly 1,000 years! Here we take a look at this mighty city and give you some history and interesting, fun facts to understand what it's all about. The Roman Republic Rome first grew into ...

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Discover Ancient Rome

Understanding people in the past can be fun, learning about ancient Rome is interesting and enjoyable. Some kings like Lucius were not very popular and sometimes cruel to people. They became very powerful and conquered other lands. They had patricians who were rich nobles and owner a lot of land. The plebeians were servants, tradesmen and generally had smaller farms. Enjoy learning and do not forget it is about having fun.

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Ancient Roman History for Kids - Fun Facts to Learn

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Discover Ancient Rome Understanding people in the past can be fun, learning about ancient Rome is interesting and enjoyable. Some kings like Lucius were not very popular and sometimes cruel to people. They became very powerful and conquered other lands. They had patricians who were rich nobles and owner a lot of land.

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Roman History

Humans have lived in the area known as Rome for at least the last 6,000 years. The myth of Rome's beginning tells the tale of its first ruler, Romulus, killing his twin brother, Remus, and naming the city after himself. However, it is not actually clear where the name Rome originally comes from.

By the fifth century B.C., a circle of hills near the Tiber River formed the area that would become Rome. These are the names of the hills:

The Esquiline, Palatine, and Quirinal united into a compact community enclosed by a wall around 500 B.C. This wall measured more than five miles long. Four regions of the city were then formed: Suburana, Esquilina, Collina, and Palatina.

Although the area was ruled by Etruria, Rome rebelled around 500 B.C. and gained independence. At this time, a Republic was formed, meaning the city would elect leaders and not be ruled by kings.

The area's slopes were cleared of trees, and houses and temples began to be built throughout the area. Paths between the communities were rutted and lined with gravel from the Tiber. People used these pathways to visit others and trade food, clothing, and other items.

Because Italy was constantly at war around this time, Romans soon came in contact with Greeks in the third century B.C. The Romans admired Greek art and architecture, and it began to show in Rome as soldiers brought souvenirs home from war. Rome was also considered the most powerful city in the Italian peninsula by now.

Rome acquired a reputation as a strong military force; however, after fighting so many wars, the population began to drop between 250 and 200 B.C. This set Rome back and stalled the city's progress for a while. By 150 B.C. the population was strong again. Aqueducts (water bridges) began to be built, supplying many of the city's residents with access to water.

By the first century B.C., following a war between Rome and its allies (the Social War) and slavery uprisings (the Servile Wars), nearly all free Italians were Roman citizens. However, Rome's Republic political system soon suffered a major blow.

After leading Rome to more military success, Sulla was appointed dictator around 81 B.C. Power was no longer shared by the people of Rome. Julius Caesar took control of the city in 49 B.C. and was assassinated in 44 B.C. After one last attempt by the citizens to restore the Republic, Rome instead became an Empire, led by Caesar's nephew Octavian.

In addition to being a strong military force, Rome itself became a city well known for its art, architecture, and other areas of society. Many people from all over the world wanted to live in Rome, which was much like a modern day New York City.

Rome was famous for its amphitheaters, which hosted gladiator fights, chariot races, and other events. In many ways, it was the best place to witness plays, performances, and athletic contests.

The Forum became a great representation of Rome and all that it offered. Located between the Palatine and Capitoline Hills, the forum is probably the most famous meeting place in the history of the world. Romans would gather here to see leaders speak, to participate in elections, or to simply interact with citizens from other towns.

Much of Ancient Rome's history has had a lingering effect on our world today, and our citizens have learned much from their way of life. Next time you are in a marketplace, a town hall meeting, or even a school play, remember that Roman boys and girls did these very same things more than 2,000 years ago.Advertisement

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Humans have lived in the area known as Rome for at least the last 6,000 years. The myth of Rome's beginning tells the tale of its first ruler, Romulus, killing his twin brother, Remus, and naming the city after himself. However, it is not actually clear where the name Rome originally comes from.