Rome

Rome is a city most known for its history. It is the starting point of the Ancient Roman Empire!

The Roman Empire lasted from around 27 B.C. to around 395 A.D. That's a long time! The empire circled around the Meditteranean Sea and was the controlling power in Israel during the time of Christ's birth. The Roman Empire also stretched as far up as Great Britain. There was a wall named "Hadrian's Wall" that was the border between the Romans and the "Savages" as they called them. The invention of cement and high-quality roads are both tied to Rome. They created nice roads all-around their empire. This made it very easy to get from one city to the next.

Rome was known for its impressive buildings. The colosseum and pantheon (not to be confused with the Parthenon in Greece) are just a couple of Rome's most impressive accomplishments.Roads have already been mentioned, but the work that went into them was mind-boggling at the time. The amount of time and money that went into them has been a wonder to everyone who has studied Rome. Aqueducts were another marvel of the Roman Empire. Aqueducts would carry water from the nearest lake or river to towns and cities. This was without the use of electricity. It was all gravity!

The culture of the Roman Empire is something that has carried over into today's society. Concepts of partial democracy (the Roman Senate) and citizenship have carried over into modern society. Roman citizenship was one of the most valuable commodities in the ancient Mediterranean world. If you were a Roman citizen, you would be granted many special privileges that most other people would not have.The senate in Rome made many important choices. The Emperor was the ultimate power, but the senate controlled the masses better. The Optimates were the higher class party and the Populares were the party of the common man.Romans were very superstitious and would often base their societal practices on pagan rituals. They worshipped the same gods that the Ancient Greek culture did. These are the gods that we know from Greek Mythology, but the Romans changed their names. This is where we get the names for the planets in our solar system!

Rome and Italy in general have a very specific culture. Rome is more unique than other cities in the nation.

The culture of "Romano" is also a dialect.The Romans speak a much faster and abbreviated form of Italian.They often do things in a. much more hurried and brief manner aswell.Romans live in a big city, so it is obvious that they would succomb to big-city culture.

Nationalism is a major factor in Roman culture, as well as Italian culture.They often hold parades and sport their red, white, and green clothes and flags.A return to the greatness of the Roman Empire is also mentioned often.They take their history very seriously and the city of Rome has been built around ancient structures that form the heart of the city.

A Socialist government is currently in place in ItalyRome is the capital of Italy, so it is naturally the center for Socialism.This form of government gives the Italians a sense of togetherness and dependence on one another.Socialism is the idea that all resources should be collected and distributed evenly throughout the population.

The major dominating religion of Christendom.

The Vatican is a country of its own in the heart of Italy/Rome. It is also referred to as Vatican City. This city is the center of Catholicism for the entire world. The pope resides here and controls the whole religion from Vatican City.St. Peter's Basilica is the main temple in the city. It is a major center for travelers of the Catholic religion. Everyone wants to visit this holy site!The pope was the major controlling factor in Rome after the collapse of the Roman Empire. This is when the Roman empire transferred into the Holy Roman Empire.

Emperor Constantine of Byzantium is widely regarded as the founder of the Catholic religion. He was said to have done this during the First Council of Nicea in 325 A.D.Many have said that although he founded the Catholic Church, he was also responsible many of the divisions that occurred after its founding

Catholicism has a worldwide influence today from Rome and the VaticanThere are churches everywhere from India to Canada. Most countries subscribe to some form of this religion

Some of the best around!

In Italy, food is more than just a means of survival--It is part of the culture!Italians take their food very seriously and it shows.They have some of the best food in the world!Dishes such as pork, pasta, pizza, and seafood are all Italian specialties.

Italian heritage is very rich and unique.Romans have a more focused heritage from the glory days of the Roman empire.Food such as Ardei umpluti (stuffed bell peppers) are specific to only Rome. They enjoy many types of fresh vegetables and fruits.These foods have been passed down from generation to generation. They enjoy many different types of pasta aswell.My personal favorite is cacio e pepe, which is pepper and a special form of cheese on penne pasta.

The ingredients of Italian/Roman food are unmatched around the world.Italians pride themselves on using the freshest and healthiest ingredients available. Foods such as tomatoes, basil, parseley, and artichokes are used in many dishes.Olives and olive oil are another favorite of the Romans.