The Lasting Contributions of the Roman Empire

1. The Lasting Contributions of the Roman Empire INB p. ______

2. DIRECTIONS • Open INB to p. _____ • Title your page: The lasting contributions of the roman empire • # 1-15 down the page • Whenever you see words in this powerpoint written in red font, copy them to your INB page. when you are done, you should have a list of 15 contributions of the roman empire.

3. The Romans were a no-nonsense people. In art and architecture they created works that were both beautiful and practical. Most surviving Roman structures were public-works projects. Public works are structures built by the government for the people to use.

4. The Romans built public baths and sewer systems so their people could have good hygiene .

5. Roman Sewer System

6. Roman Baths

7. They built temples so their people could worship their many gods.

8. They invented vaulted arches, and with them built beautiful bridges that are still in use today.

9. They built huge forums so their people could gather and be entertained…

10. …and marketplaces where they could buy and trade goods.

11. Artists and sculptors added beauty to Roman buildings. Statues of emperors and gods stood in public places and private gardens.

12. Paintings and mosaics decorated Roman homes.

13. The Romans invented concrete, a material that was stronger and easier to use than stone. They designed arches and huge domes of concrete. They also used it to build roads.

14. Roman roads were paved with a surface of cut stones or concrete. These roads were built so the army could move quickly from place to place. On the march, soldiers built both roads and forts. Eventually there were 50,000 miles of roads that linked cities and military outposts. Good roads also helped unify the empire and spread Roman culture.

15. concrete Roads

16. concrete arches

17. Concrete domes

18. Roman towns had surprisingly modern public water systems. Ordinary people got clean water from public fountains. Wealthier homes had private water supplies. Complex systems of aqueducts brought water to the people.

19. In 451 B.C. leaders of the Republic wrote Rome’s first law code, known as the Twelve Tables. The laws were clearly written so every Roman could understand them. This was the start of a long, legal tradition that is still with us today.

20. Roman law has influenced modern law codes. Many European and Latin- American nations base their law on the Roman system. The Roman ideas that good government is based on the rule of law and that all citizens have equal rights under the law greatly influenced our founding fathers as well.

21. Like Roman law, the Latin language also spread throughout the empire. Long after the empire collapsed, educated people still used Latin to communicate.

22. Today, millions of people speak Romance languages, or languages based on Latin. The most widespread Romance language is Spanish. Other major Romance languages are Italian, French, Portuguese, and Romanian.

23. For many people, Rome’s most important legacy is Christianity, a religion based on the teachings of the Jewish prophet, Jesus. Born in Palestine around 4 B.C., Jesus urged his followers to love God and one another. Some came to view him as a messiah, or savior sent by God. Roman authorities persecuted early Christians. Even so, the new faith spread. In the 300s, the emperor Constantine allowed Christians to worship freely and the Church grew into a powerful institution.

24. The End