27 facts about ancient Rome that are strangely relevant today

Wow, have the Romans even invented from the first names?!


For more than a millennium, the Roman Empire has dominated the Earth. Of course, the exact time is in place for the debate, but depending on the historian as you ask, Roman rule dates as far as Circa 750 BC.e. and ran to somewhere in the second half of the fifth century, C.E. No matter how you cut it, it's a piece of scandal human history.

In this spirit, it should not be surprising that the era of Julius Caesar and Marcus Aurelius had a major and impregnating effect on society as we know. Here are all the ways that life in ancient Rome is strangely relevant to life today.

1
Ancient Rome was more densely populated than modern Manhattan.

ancient roman sculpture filled with citizens and soldiers, ancient rome facts

At 25,846 people per square kilometer, Manhattan has the largest population density of all American local. Nevertheless, he shoveles that of ancient Rome. A lot of expertsestimate That at the top of the city, 1 million people lived in the Aurelian walls - resulting in a population density of 72,150 per square kilometer. Ancient Romans wonder were the first people to live in apartments.

2
The Senate of Rome was desperately partisan.

depicting ancient roman senate with cicero and catiline, ancient rome facts
Wikimedia Commons / Cesare Maccari

Because the Roman Republic practiced the separation of power in its government, theSenate, whose name comes from the Romain "Senatus Populus of Romanus" (SPQR), existed to supervise elections, legislation, criminal trials and even foreign policy. But after the Roman Republic beat Carthage in the Punic Wars in 146 BC., the senators focused more and more on the protection of their own interests - and quickly developed into an extremely polarized partisan.

According to Jim Barron, a history of history and classic at the School of Friends of Germantown, "Senators have always felt what was best for the Republic", which resulted in "to do something This way, or do it in this way. No compromise. No compromise [could] be reached. "

3
Rome has invented modern hydroelectricity.

the roman aqueduct in segovia spain

In the first century, C.E., the Romans had already hitched water from the water. Huge aqueducts and water seals were often used to feed the flour mills, which were used to feed the masses. Despite trutures of knowledge, technology and information that has been lost after the fall of Rome, hydropower survived. This technology has turned into hydropower that we know today, which iscurrently responsible For 71% of all renewable energies and 16.4% of global energy around the world.

4
The return teenagers then also jumped the class to drink.

Alcohol in Plastic Bottles, ancient rome facts
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With regard to the breeding of children, modern parents face some of the same problems as ancient parents, especially since the trave for young rebels was present, even at the Roman age. The parents of wild teenagers will be able to relate to Cicero, including the son, Marcus, regularly jumped his university conferences to get outDrink and party. Since the trolley races of Rome with fluid wine, it is easy to see how the young Marcus could be easily distracted.

5
Today's sports stadiums are modeled after the old Roman versions.

inside view of the colosseum in rome, ancient rome facts

If you have already been stuck in the nose nose seats in Gillette stadium, blame the Romans. According to a report inIllustrated sportsThe stadiums and arena of today are largely influenced by the stages and arena of ancient Rome. (It should be noted, however, that the design of the Roman stadiums was a derivative of the amphitheatres that populated the landscape of ancient Greece.)

6
The world's first shopping center appeared in an old Rome.

old Trajan Market in rome, ancient rome facts
Wikimedia Commons / Alessio Nastro Siniscalchi

You may think that the mall is a unique American innovation. (Just ask for the42 million Annual Visitors of the America Shopping Center, Minneapolis.) But the world's first shopping center goes back to the trajan market of the first century, named after Trajan, one of the so-called five vouchers emperors - more than 150 stores individuals and offices.

7
Modern plumbing has been a pioneer by Roman engineers.

modern plumbing pipes on wall, ancient rome facts

Someone would have invented it sooner or later, but in fact, it is the Romans we must thankinner plumbing. Although they do not perfect it (Toilets were usually in kitchens And the head pipes have often caused lead poisoning), they were the first to install a network of pipes at home. The pipes were used to move the waste, but were also used to move water in warmer months as a way to stay cool inside. The Romans are also responsible for the invention of the sewer system, although most interior plumbing systems did not actually lead to the sewer.

8
Rome turned the bread in staple food.

non coffee energy boosters

When it comes tobreadThe Romans were revolutionary beyond inventing the mill with water. They also popularized yeastbread for the first time in history and even formed baker guilds that are treated with rich citizens. High requirements forWhite bread leads to the invention of the first mechanical pulp mixer. (However, at the time, "mechanics" meant: propelled by donkeys and horses.)

9
Traffic was a major headache in ancient Rome.

Traffic in a City Valentine's Day
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You think your journey is wrong? Traffic in an old Rome started at rush hour A.M. Rush ... and worn all the way in the night. To take it from the 1st century, Decimus Iunius Iuvenalis, which means taking it with a massive grain of salt, because Iuvenalis was a well-known satirist - the trafficking literally in several deaths, as a result of insomnia due to sound pollution.And you thought that 295 was bad ...

10
Ancient Rome had a robust food protection program.

a gallic-roman harvester picture, ancient rome facts
Wikimedia Commons / Diebuche

Long before the US politicians on both sides of the driveway were competing on health care and other government subsidized products, the Romans fortunately have free grain portions to the poorest citizens of the city. Politics, calledCura Annonae, advanced as the Empire grew up, finally offering these portions to citizens outside the city. In the 3rd century, the Empire was no longer distributing grain, but bread, olive oil, wine and even pork.

11
The Romans used a grass called Silphium for contraception.

roman drawing of men and women meeting, ancient rome facts

Silphium was a beloved herb by the Romans for its natural contraception properties. When consumed, it has induced menstruation and could like legend, it even has false miscarriages in pregnant women. The grass was so popular that the Romansconsumes In extinction around the end of the first century.

12
Roman concrete is the strongest building material in history.

pantheon building in rome an example of roman concrete construction called opus caementicium, ancient rome facts
Wikimedia Commons / Jean-Christophe Benoisist

The Romans were masters manufacturers not only in terms of architecture, but also in terms of building materials, the most impressive of which was concrete. Unfortunately, knowledge of the makeup ofRoman concrete was lost during the fall of Rome. Although modern engineers have succeeded in creating robust concrete, our mortar is still not a correspondence. Made with volcanic ashes, Roman concrete was incredibly strong and reactive to other materials, which makes resistance to weather and other naturally erosive agents. No wonder many of these concrete structures are always millennia later.

13
Rome has increased to power in the back of an expansive motorway network.

texas highway, ancient rome facts

One of the greatest achievements in Rome on the ground is the vastroad network that the empire builds everything through the Mediterranean. Made of gravel and large flat stones, these routes covered by more than 50,000 miles and mainly served to connect conquered cities. Many of these roads lasted in the Middle Ages and fragments of them can even be seen today.

14
Latin, the official language of Rome, a shaped language for one billion current people.

dictionary with latin language words inside of it, ancient rome facts

Carpe Diem,nourishing mother,saphper,E pluribus unum,etcThem are just some of thesentences we adopted Latin, the mother tongue of the Roman Empire. But Latin roots are much deeper than the adopted sentences. The tongue threw the basis for an entire class of so-called "romance" languages, including French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and Romanian. Everything said, about one billion people speak of the languages ​​of romance under primary or secondary capacity.

15
The rotation of the crops comes from Roman farmers.

Baby Corn Plants growing in the sun, ancient rome facts
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As the Roman Empire quickly grew up, the number of mouths to nourish has increased, so farmers needed to be strategic about their crops. What they have proposed is a system ofcrop rotation, one that most Western farmers still practice today. Roman farmers have turned three fields through three stages that were just as important for the success and performance of their crops: "food, food and fallow". A field has been used for culture, next to feed livestock, and the third would arise to find nutrients.

16
The Romans walked into hallucinogenic substances.

salema porgy fish known as sarpa salpa ancient romans used to use to get high, ancient rome facts

Recreational drugs are around since dawn of time - just ask the Romans! As you go, for pleasure, they would eat a fish called Salema Porgy - also known, in today's language, like Sarpa Salpa - to become intentionally high. According to a report inClinical Toxicology, Ingest the fish can result in severe hallucinations. (Oh, the measurement of scientists will go to "research ...")

17
Roman soldiers have received the benefits of veteran.

Soldier in fatigues, ancient rome facts
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During the elections, we often hear that candidates promise to improve the care and benefits of veterans - but the reality is that the pensions and health care of veterans are very stipulated and often subordinated. Roman veterans would recognize the fight. Like modern politicians, Roman politicians have often fought the problem of the pension of legionnaires, those who fought in the Roman legion. In the end, Caesar first established the pension system, offering soldiers apension plan 13 times the salary of a soldier for those who served at least 20 years.

18
Roman poets have influenced Shakespeare.

a printed page of ancient roman poet virgil, ancient rome facts
Wikimedia Commons / John Rylands University Library

Almost everyone in the English-speaking world has read Shakespeare, whether for pleasure or because it was obliged to read at school. Ergo (it's a Latin word, passing),You have interacted with Roman literature. One of the biggest influences of Bard, after all, was the Ovid Roman poet.A dream of a summer night,Antony and Cleopatra, andThe winter tale Are just some of the Shakespeare stories based on Fables d'Ovid. In addition, Ovid, Horace and Virgil were the three Roman poets of the center of "the golden age of poetry", whose works are always studied and read today.

19
Christianity has generated a Roman province.

religious texts valuable items in your attic, ancient rome facts

Initially a small religious sect in the Roman province of Judea, Christianity eventually eventually eventually in the world's most popular religion. Three centuries later, the Emperor Constantine declared Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire. Even after the fall of Rome, Christianity continued to spread.

20
MVP athletes were grazing - and incredibly popular too.

roman chariot racing with horses, ancient roman facts

Long before football fans dropped thousands of dollars to sit on the Super Bowl, the Romans filled with stadiums - like the circus of 250,000 maximum seats - to watch chariot riders. Some of the most popular stars were virtually ancient versions of Lebron James, Tom Brady and Derek throw ... all put together! Just watchedGAIUS APPERIUS DOCLES, who was so loved that he won the modern equivalent of $ 15 billion.

21
The emperors are self-vaccinated ... against the poison!

poison bottle with death symbol on tag, ancient rome facts
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The fact that the Romans think about vaccinating againstpoison Rather than diseases speaks long on the threats that Roman emperors face at the time. Called "Mithridatism" after the King Mithridates IV of Pontus, many believed that it was possible to reinforce immunity against some of the most deadly poisons, such as Arsenic. It was not until the 18th century thatEdward Jenner thought to do this same with deadly diseases.

22
Creeping financial fraud in Roman politicians.

shady business man crossing his fingers behind his back while shaking hands, indicating that he is a liar or lying, ancient rome facts
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It is often said that modern democracy is based on Athenian democracy, but there are also a lot of parallels between her and Roman democracy. Some of these parallels: the division of government branches, the idea of ​​elected officials and, would not you know, twisted politicians. In fact, Marcus Tullius Cicero - the same politician who affirmed a tax conservatism to the Roman Heads of State - was known to havepocketed A minor fortune by putting aside the portions of government money for itself.

23
A problem with money in corroded politics the faith of the Romans in the democratic system.

Movemember has raised hundreds of millions around the world.
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Romans established aRepublic As a board of directors, and included annual democratic elections that served as gross models for modern democratic elections. But over time, these elections have also suffered from the same type of excessive expenditure that are strongly debated today. AsSlate Remarks"The purchase of voting has made sense for individual politicians at the same time as it compromised the elite as a whole", but "at the end, the purchase of chronic election had helped grind all faiths in republican government. "

24
The arguments on Roman land reforms put redistricting debates today.

gaius gracchus addressing plebeians in rome over land reforms, ancient rome facts
Wikimedia Commons / Silvester David Mirys

Terrestrial reforms have never been simple - not now, and certainly not during Roman times, like the Gracchus Tiberiusoffers The earth is distributed to the plebeians as a way to grow the army. His proposal would have mentioned a five-decades debate that leads to about zero people to get exactly what they want. Seems familiar? Otherwise, just Google "redrawing" or "gerrymandering".

25
The Romans removed the leaders only to meet with worse leaders.

statue head of ancient rome's first emperor, caesar augustus, ancient rome facts

There is a great lesson that can be taken from Caesar's assassination: getting rid of a tyrant does not get rid of tyranny. Following the assassination, what happened because of its tyrannical rule in the heavy hand - came aparade of tyrants still worse. Caligula, Auguste, Tiberius and Nero all followed Caesar - and all were more murderer, more eccentric, and more self-implanted than Caesar. And for more historical trivia changing paradigm, do not miss these30 crazy facts that will change your vision of history.

26
Rome was the first to establish an equal power among all citizens, regardless of the class

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The galleys of Plebian were a great progress for the lower class of the Roman Republic. Once they were in the government, the plebeians exercised their power in the form of secession. No different from the concept of closure of the government, the plebeanic sessions involved the plebeian class, that is to say the working class, leaving the city and the patricians to crack. This movement has been a successful form of negotiation and balancing of power and needs of all citizens of the Republic, rich and poor. Ultimately,Hortens Act has been set up, officially declaring plebeians and equal patricians under the eye of the law.

27
The remains of Roman architecture are always prevalent today, including the Roman vault

the roman arches of segovia in castilla y leon in spain, ancient rome facts

One of the most visible routes in Rome remained relevant in the modern day is in its lasting impact on architecture. No architectural innovation has been so impacitive as the vault. While the vault was not a new concept, theRoman Arc Used a vault, which was larger and heavier than other stones that balanced the stones relating to the center. The result was a more durable and effective arch even in a large-scale architecture than ever before. Many still exist today, especially in the Roman aqueduct that remain throughout Mediterranean Europe.

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Categories: Smarter Living
Tags: Facts / history
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