G06 Language Arts: The Roman Legacy (July 17, 2025)

 The Roman Legacy

 

                  The Western Roman Empire fell in 476 A.D., while the Eastern Roman Empire, or the Byzantine Empire, fell in 1453 A.D. However, the legacy of the Roman Empire continues in the modern day in multiple aspects of society. 

 

                  The first major aspect is language. Latin continued to be spoken after the fall of the Roman Empire, eventually evolving into the Romance languages: Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Romanian. These languages are widely spoken today. Additionally, Latin-based words are seen in English, such as the word “lunar” (of the moon), from the Latin luna (moon), and Latin expressions are often seen in English; et cetera means “and the rest.”

 

                  Roman institutions inspire many institutions today. The Roman Republic included a Senate, a council of people who ran the country. Today, the Senate is the upper house of the U.S. Congress. Additionally, until the German Empire adopted an imperial code in 1900, Roman law was used as a subsidiary law.

 

                  Rome is famous for its roads and statues. Many of those still exist today. While part of the Colosseum was removed over time, the Colosseum has mostly been preserved. Many Roman roads continue to be used to this day across Europe. The Aqua Virgo, constructed in 19 B.C., continues to supply water to multiple fountains. 

 

                  With influence on language, institutions, and architecture, the Roman Empire undeniably has a strong impact on modern society. From English words and American institutions to European roads, Rome’s legacy lives on. 

 

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Works Cited

UNC-Chapel Hill Writing Center. “Latin Terms and Abbreviations – the Writing Center • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.” The Writing Center • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 14 May 2024, writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/latin-terms-and-abbreviations/#:~:text=The%20abbreviation%20etc.,can%20be%20substituted%20for%20etc.

 

Carozza, Paolo, Rheinstein, Max, Jolowicz, Herbert Felix, Glendon, Mary Ann, Kiralfy, Albert Roland, Stein, Peter G., Powell, Raphael, Hazard, John N., Millner, Maurice Alfred. "Roman law". Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Mar. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Roman-law. Accessed 14 July 2025.