In its early days, Rome absorbed ideas from Greek colonists in southern Italy,
and it continued to borrow heavily from Greek culture after it conquered
Greece.
The blending of Greek and Roman cultures is known as Greco-Roman
civilization.
Architecture
 The most famous domed structure is
the Pantheon, a temple to all the
Roman gods, which still stands in
Rome.
 Roman engineers built many immense
aqueducts (bridge-like stone
structures that brought water from the
hills into Roman cities)
Historians
 The historian Livy sought to rouse patriotic feeling and restore traditional
heroic past. In his history of Rome, Livy recounted tales of great heroes
such as Cinccinatus.
Roman Law
 As Roman law developed, certain basic principles evolved that we still see
today.
1. People of the same status are equal before the law.
2. An accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
3. The accused should be allowed to face his or her accuser and defend
against the charge.
4. Guilt must be established “clearer that daylight” through evidence.
5. Decisions should be based on fairness, allowing judges to interpret the
law.