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Ancient Rome left a large mark on law and politics. First, Ancient Rome introduced the separation of powers in government and also had three branches of government. Additionally, many basic principles of American law are derived from Roman ideals. The concept of a defendant being presumed innocent until proven guilty, often attributed to the 5th and 6th amendments of the U.S. Constitution (though not explicitly expressed in the document), was taken from Rome directly. The principle of equal justice under law, etched into the front pediment of the United States Supreme Court, also has its roots in the Roman Empire. The burden of proof was pushed from the defendant to the petitioner thanks to Rome. Cruel or unusual punishment, a phrase synonymous with the 8th amendment to the Constitution, was specifically argued against in the Roman Empire. Of course, "legalese" (phrases like actus reus, affidavit, alibi, etc.) is typically in Latin, making it a more noticeable ode to Rome that has been integrated into American jurisprudence. There are so, so many nods to Rome in the legal system down to the embodiment of justice itself, the blind Lady Justice, who is inspired by the Roman goddess Justitia. The very foundation of American government references Rome a plethora of times. Some standard examples include the debates on federalism between "Publius" and "Brutus", comparisons between Britain and Caesar from revolutionary Josiah Quincy, and countless references to Roman philosophy and law featured within speeches from the Founding Fathers. The Founding Fathers of America were deeply inspired by Ancient Rome, so it is no surprise that the principles expressed by Romans have weaseled their way into American law in such a large manner. (I apologize for the long paragraph. I could go on about the Roman influence on American law for a long time!)

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Sculptures, bas relief, and mosaics were commonly created in Ancient Rome. Bas relief is a subset of sculpture in which images were carved from flat stone. Many of the most famous sculptures known to man, including The Orator and Augustus of Prima Porta were created within the Roman Empire. Mosaics were commonly found in wealthy homes and are still featured in prominent locations like churches in modern times.

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Latin is arguably the most important Roman influence on western culture. Not only is Latin still taught in classrooms all around the world today, but it is the dialect that Romantic languages such as Italian, Spanish, Romanian, Portuguese, and French directly evolved from.

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Ancient Rome had many major influences on architecture in the form of aches, which were used for aqueducts, domes, and raised sidewalks, all of which are still used today.

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Ancient Romans made concrete in order to improve their architecture. We use concrete for many things in the present day like sidewalks, architectural structures, and roads.

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Christianity played a large role in Roman culture thanks to Theodosius and the Edict of Thessalonica. This religion spread through and survived the Roman Empire. Christianity is now the most practiced religion in the world.

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Ancient Rome was well known for its sports and entertainment. Buildings like the Colosseum and the Circus Maximus housed many gladiatorial fights, chariot races, and other athletic events that clearly influenced the development of modern sports. Additionally, the phrase "panem et circenses" or "bread and circuses", which is often used in political disputes to this day, was conceptualized in Ancient Rome. This refers to the idea of distracting the public from political discontent with sports/entertainment (circuses) and food (bread) and stresses the importance of athletics in both Rome's social and political atmosphere. Lastly, the quadrennial Olympic Games were originally a Roman event.