What is so "Ancient" about Rome?

What is so "Ancient" About Rome?

By: Jake Wade

Rome was a civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea, it became one of the largest empires in the ancient world. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Rome) Ancient means, of or in time long past, esp. before the end of the Western Roman Empire A.D. 476: ancient history. Rome is an ancient empire that isn’t so ancient when you come to think of it. Rome has many things in its government and economic systems that we use to this day.

The Roman Government had an amazing impact on the way that the American government is run today. For example, the Roman Empire operated on the system of Checks and Balances, like how we do in America today. (http://www.fordham.edu) In the United States we have three branches of government just like the Romans did. We have the Legislative branch (The Congress), the judicial branch (The Supreme Court), and the executive branch (The President). The American system was based on powers/functions and the Roman system was based on balance of interests. (http://www.fordham.edu) The three branches of the Roman system were; The Monarchical branch (Two consuls plus other magistrates), The Aristocratic branch (Senate), and the Democratic branch (An assembly of tribes and tribunes. (http://www.fordham.edu) Both of these systems had individual sets of rules and regulations of the branches. In retrospect, each branch for every branch of the Roman Government, the United States has one exactly like it. First, the Democratic and Executive Branches are the same thing. Both of them have the ability to veto a bill and decide on war. Next, the Aristocratic and Legislative branches are also the same thing. They both control the state budget and pass laws. Finally, the Monarchical and Judicial Branches is the same thing. They both are judges and decided the main verdicts of criminal offenses. (http://www.fordham.edu) The setup of the Roman Empire was much like our own, but only done around 1500 years ago.

TABLE I	Procedure: for courts and trials
TABLE II	Trials, continued.
TABLE III	Debt
TABLE IV	Rights of fathers (paterfamilias) over the family
TABLE V	Legal guardianship and inheritance laws
TABLE VI	Acquisition and possession
TABLE VII	Land rights
TABLE VIII	Torts and delicts (Laws of injury)
TABLE IX	Public law
TABLE X	Sacred law
TABLE XI	Supplement I
TABLE XII	Supplement II (http://www.csun.edu)

The next matter on the Roman Government s that they have a set of laws that are to be followed, just like our constitution has laws we need to follow. These Laws are known as “The Twelve Tables.” Each law has a different meaning and each law has a different way of punishment. The Constitution also has theses indications of consequences and strict Law. These Tables noted to the left, is the first attempt of Roman law and the First recorded writing by the Romans. (http://www.csun.edu) Within these tables, it seems as though that the fathers have control over everything in the family, that the men have the only power in Rome. This was true. That is one of the only things that separate us from Rome, women have rights in America. At first the United States followed the rules of the Roman Empire, but as time progressed, they decided that every man should be treated equally. Within the U.S constitution there are 27 amendments.  All of these amendments state different rules and regulations that must be followed. If one were not to follow these rules. Then there would be serious consequences that would end up leading into years of jail time. Although we are not as cruel as the Roman law, we still have our ways of “Putting our foot down” and cracking down on those who break the law.

            The Roman Empire isn’t so ancient. The only thing that really makes the city ancient is the time period that it thrived in. Almost of our nation’s government and economic way of living is based on that of the Roman Empire. Without the Roman way of living the United States would have figured out an entirely new way to live their lives. Not only is The United States based on the Roman Empire but so are many other highly developed countries and societies of the world.

Citations:

• Wikipedia.org- "Ancient Rome -." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 06 Mar. 2010. .
• Dictionary.com- "Ancient | Define Ancient at Dictionary.com." Dictionary.com | Find the Meanings and Definitions of Words at Dictionary.com. Web. 06 Mar. 2010. .
• Fordham.edu/ Twelve tables image- "Ancient History Sourcebook: The Roman Republic: Checks and Balances." FORDHAM.EDU. Web. 06 Mar. 2010. .
•  Csun.edu- "THE TWELVE TABLES." California State University, Northridge. Web. 06 Mar. 2010. .
• Rome image- Concurring Opinions. Web. 06 Mar. 2010. .
• Checks and Balances image- "Does the System of Checks and Balances Work -." Fashion Resources - Fashion Clothes, fashion Design, girls Clothing, women’s Clothing, women’s Dresses, fashion Photography Resources. Web. 06 Mar. 2010. .