•Roman culture lasted from the 8th century BCE through the end of the western half of the Roman Empire in the 5th century CE, and it had a massive impact on the world. Roman culture is a combination of the cultural traditions of earlier societies, including the Greeks and Etruscans and that created the future of Europe and the world beyond.
1)Society and Daily Life
Roman society was quite distinct. There were patricians (wealthy aristocrats) and plebeians (normal people), and slaves. Family life was very centered. The male, who was the oldest member of the family, was the head of the family (paterfamilias) and greatly dictated how the family lived their lives. The Romans lived very public lives, visiting the Forum to display their public life, to engage in political discourse, markets, and entertainment.
2) Art & Architecture
Roman art was realistic and practical with a focus on mosaics, murals, portraits, and historical reliefs. Architecture was also among Rome's greatest achievements. Romans were able to perfect the use of the arch, vault, and concrete, allowing them to create structures that endure to this day, such as the Colosseum, aqueducts, and roads that are still influencing structural engineering, today.
3) Religion & Mythology
Religion was also an essential aspect of Roman culture and identity. In the beginning, Romans worshipped a pantheon of gods and spirits that were associated with natural features and their daily lives. As the empire grew, Romans were able to have the luxury of adopting the gods from Greek mythology into their religion with Roman names, (i.e. Jupiter was equivalent to Zeus). Eventually, Christianity became the primary religion.
4) Languages and Literature
Latin, the language of Rome, gave rise to the Romance languages (such as Italian, French, and Spanish), and had a significant impact on English. Writers like Virgil, Ovid, and Cicero wrote texts that are still studied and praised for their beauty and insights of thought.
5) Legacy
The influence of Roman culture continues to permeate everything around us— whether it's a modern legal system, the idea of a republic, or a wide array of types of architecture and art. Even today, Romans would agree that "All roads lead to Rome" reflects the sheer significance of Roman civilization.
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