10.6: Rome's Legacy

Art

Roman artists decorated buildings with beautiful mosaics and skilled portrait frescoes on wet plaster. Sculptors created statues to honor their gods; though many were copies of Greek originals, it helped to spread Greek masterpieces to the world.

Literature

Emperors supported famous writers like Virgil, who wrote the Aeneid, and Ovid, who wrote about myths in Metamorphoses. Romans also created popular satires, speeches and dramas.

Language

Writers wrote in Latin, but there were two official languages: Latin and Greek.Latin developed into many different languages known as Romance languages. It influenced other languages by introducing Latin words, such as circus into English.

The Beginning of Civil Law

Over time, Rome developed civil law, which is a legal system based on a written code of laws. Many countries in Europe have traditions based on civil law as it was spread throughout the world and influenced it.

Philosophy and History

The Romans made important contributions, like creating words in philosophy that are still used today, like argument and proof. The Romans studied and wrote about their own history. They were influenced by Greek writers and documented changes, like Livy.