Romans, the founders of Western civilisation

By Amal Hewavissenti

Rome emerged on the world scene with the decline and fall of the Greek civilisation. It was Rome which highlighted and preserved the total splendour of Greeks to transfer it to the future world. Being a major city in Italy, it was discovered in 753 BC and was made a republic around 200 years later.

The establishment of the city of Rome is supported by several legends. A popular legend says that the city was built and developed by two brothers bred up by a she wolf. The two brothers specially Romulus had organised a large army and recaptured the city from the enemies. Romulus, together with his brother Remus established the city and named it Rome.

The Latini, a Latin-speaking people, however, captured the city of Rome from its Etruscan Kings in 509 BC. As Romans, they virtually spread their life style, their laws and their language throughout Italy then over the Mediterranean region and much of Europe.

Wherever the Romans went as conquerors, they took particular care to establish their own way of life. Although many local customs survived, it is really possible to find "Roman every day life" throughout the empire.

The central government is Rome demanded the farmers to work on as much land as possible and new farm houses and estates began to appear. Roman towns were generally well planned with straight streets dividing the town into regular segments or blocks. The wealthy lived in private houses with rooms for slaves and a secluded garden.

Roman towns had a regular supply of water and an efficient system of sewage disposal. In the Roman army, soldiers were organised into legions and each legion was composed of about 500 men.The legionary solders were well armed and fought as a ground force while cavalry fought on horse back.

The army helped create the Roman world by conquering countries, constructing forts and keeping Roman controlled countryside secure from enemy attacks. Boundaries to the Roman world were established sometimes using rivers, mountains or seas as a barrier. Inside these boundaries, the Romans created provinces where the Romans encouraged the newly conquered peoples to live just like the Romans. They introduced their religion into the provinces and established temples for gods and goddesses such as Minerva, Jupiter and Juno.

At first, Rome was a republic. People with substantial property were allowed to vote for the politicians who formed the central government. Each year, one was elected to lead the government and one to command the army.

In the second century BC, politicians began to battle with each for supreme power and in the next century, a civil war broke out. Julius Caesar defeated a rival politician Pompey and made himself dictator of Rome. The next dictator was Octavian who became an emperor by the name of Augustus in 27 BC. This was the beginning of the period in Roman history called "empire".

The emperor decided who should rule and handed out important tasks to those he could possibly trust. Under the rule of the emperors, Rome gradually conquered an even greater area.

Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar was a powerful Roman general with great ambitions. He used his vast army to win a civil war against his political rivals and raise himself the sole ruler of the mighty Roman empire. Having served in the army and held various public offices, Caesar became a successful politician. He was in charge of the administration of the Roman State and the armed forces even though he held power jointly with another consul. From there he conquered a massive new area in Gaul and Germany and invaded Britain twice in 55 and 54 BC.

Caesar was a very powerful leader with a huge army under his control and was determined not to disband his troops, as he should have done by law. Following victories at civil wars in Rome, he was appointed 'dictator for life' making him the sole ruler. Finally he was stabbed to death outside the parliament building.

As Caesar captured the area up-to the river Rhine and earned public admiration for his victories, his power increased dramatically. He made clear changes in the empire which had earlier been a republic.

Having failed to resist Caesar's power, Pompey, the leader in the Senate fled to Egypt but was followed by Julius Caesar. He killed Pompey. Here he met Cleopatra the Egyptian empress and assumed divinity to the gradual displeasure of the Roman people.

Roman legacy

The Latin language developed into many European languages spoken today including Spanish, Italian and French. Most European countries have adopted Roman law as the basis of their law. The English alphabet is Roman and the English names for the months are Roman. The Roman numerals are often used.

Rome had a rich tradition of art which was preliminarily nourished by Greek traditions. Romans were well versed in sculpture (the head of Augustus Caesar and the statue of Julius Caesar for instance).

Their techniques of architecture surpassed those which existed elsewhere in the world. (The temple of Pantheon and the Colosseum for example). Their techniques of construction and architecture provided ideal archetypes for the western countries

- the western civilisation.