Why You Should Visit the Ancient Wonders of Rome
By Jack Lewis
Rome is not like other cities. While it is still a thriving metropolis with the hustle and bustle of daily life, it holds an immense and ancient history that goes back hundreds of years. It was the birthplace of one of the greatest republics the world has ever seen, as well as a prime example of how a republic can turn into a dictatorship.
From its early roots as a small city state ruled by kings, to a republic that fought one of the greatest strategic military campaigns of all time (Second Punic war), Rome has a history unlike any other. When it did eventually fall into civil war, resulting in an empire, Rome unleashed its ways on the world, forever changing human history.
When one thinks of Rome, they commonly think of mad emperors (such as Nero, who burned the city to the ground in order to build himself a palace), yet many forget the immense cultural and technological impacts it had. Rome was one of the first powers to build a complicated yet well planned network of roads, connecting the vast empire in ways no other power had done previously (many of these roads are still around today!). It also created a series of aqueducts, buildings which were designed to transport water from miles away to population centers.
As for the cultural impact, Rome’s ideals and systems can still be seen in modern nations today. Take the United States, for example. Not only is its architecture heavily influenced from Roman designs (Tall columns, white marble), but its entire system of government is loosely based around the ideals of the Roman Republic. Even the names of political entities, such as the Senate, are names taken directly from Rome’s playbook.
To visit Rome is to visit a place lost in time, as many of the Roman’s achievements still stand today. Take the Coliseum, for example, which was built by Pompey Magnus, whom Julius Caesar fought during the Republic’s final days. A structure of immense size, it was completed in only eight years, a feat that even today is incredible.
Even outside the city itself, Rome’s ancient reach can still be felt. Taking Greek culture and adapting it to their own, Rome essentially hellenized much of the western world, with Roman statues and coins still being discovered in places such as Egypt, Syria, and Britain.
With such a large impact on the world, it's no wonder that Rome is a world heritage site. Although different now, the eternal city still stands as a testament to what man is capable of, given the right circumstances, and should be visited by anyone who has the means to.