The Glory of Rome Is Not Forgotten

October 28, 1997

I. 

The Roman Empire suffered many problems in its final years. One of them is they were constantly fighting for control. One person would be emperor one day and during the night the guard, who wanted another emperor so he could be paid more, his axe would "accidentally" fall and kill the emperor, and the next day the richest would rule. 

Another problem was urban decay. Rome's buildings were crumbling at every corner and were swaying in the wind. The sound could drive you crazy from the echoes that rang through the streets in the dead of night. 

The crime was terrible. You would be considered very bold or crazy to walk around after dark. The conditions were unbelievable and life-threatening, though the rich were sitting in their castles. The next day, they would be out in the streets. 

The treasury, mines, farms, and people were all run dry. The armies were gone, for there was no money to pay them. The enemies were pushing inward, and the borders shrank and shrank until there were no borders and the mighty Roman Empire had perished.

II.

The Romans unified the Mediterranian area, defeating the Greeks, Persians, Huns, barbarians, and Egyptians, leaving them as the leaders of a region that is the about the size of the United States today! 

They formed a government system that treated citizens fairly and justly, allowing citizens of every class, rich or poor, to have an equal say in everything. 

Roman architecture used the dome, tall buildings, and irrigation. Their buildings are the starting point of our government buildings and other buildings today. 

The army was the strongest of its time, and the empire didn't have any civil wars to weaken it.

Christianity was centered in Rome, where at first believers were persecuted, but then it was a major religion; the pope lives there! The Catholic church is in Rome, and the Greek Orthadox Church is in Constantinople.

III.

The Roman laws have formed the laws that we use today, such as the freedom that all men are created equal, and that they have an equal say in what happens as much as a rich person. People can say what they want and not get executed. The laws were written down and were reasonable; they can't be changed by one person alone who is in power; it must be mutual. 

The architecture is known over the world and some of the same techniques are used today to build all kinds of buildings from houses to skyscrapers. 

The government system is used today by the United States: president (consul/tribune), Senate and House of Representatives (Senate). 

Army tactics are studied and modernized today by world and military leaders.

Rome's architecture, laws, army, government, and religion shape our world even today!

SPQR (THE SENATE AND THE PEOPLE OF ROME)