Introduction

In the year 1764, long after the Roman Empire collapsed, a young Englishman named Edward Gibbon visited the city of Rome. Gibbon saw the ruins of ancient buildings, and the remains of aqueducts and bridges and wondered, “How did such a great empire come to an end?”

Why did Gibbon spend so many years learning and writing about ancient Rome? One reason is that Rome has had an enormous influence on western civilization, while other civilizations flourished in present-day India and China. As one historian stated, “Rome perished, yet it lived on.” In this lesson, you will discover the problems that brought down the powerful Roman Empire.

At the height of its power, Rome made numerous contributions to society. As you read on, you will learn how Rome’s influence survives in the West in areas such as modern art, architecture, engineering, language, philosophy, and law. Many of these contributions still continue to shape the Western modern world and can be found in many aspects of daily life.