The Role of the Romans

The Romans created the first pan-European empire.

Cultural Forefathers

• Language
• Religion
• Architecture
• Philosophy
• Law
• Government
• Societal structure

Religion

Christianity spread initially as an underground cult through coastal Mediterranean cities in the Empire.

Initially, the Romans saw Christianity as dangerous to the empire and chose to persecute followers.

Constantine the Great legalized Christianity and converted.

The Roman Empire spread Christianity and Christianity spread Latin and kept it alive.

Societal Structure

In the 300s, Diocletian issued an edict that tied peasants to the land.

The peasants who worked on villas were known as villeins.

As slavery declined, villeinage became known as serfdom.

Villeinage is the source of our word villain.

Language

Before English became the language of international communication, French and Latin were.

Untitled Slide

However, the top 1000 most used words are mostly Anglo-Saxon.