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Rome's Lasting Legacy — Reading Comprehension

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This passage explores the profound legacy of Ancient Rome and how its beliefs, innovations, and systems continue to shape the modern world. Covering Roman law, government structure, engineering feats, and the spread of the Latin language, students will analyze how Rome’s influence can be seen in today’s legal systems, architecture, and vocabulary. The passage aligns with CA HSS 6.7, addressing Roman contributions and their global impact, and CCSS RH.6-8.2, supporting key ELA skills such as citing evidence and summarizing. Activities include a reading comprehension quiz, writing prompts that focus on causation and significance, graphic organizers, a timeline, a glossary, and Spanish translations of both the standard and differentiated texts. A public domain image enriches the content, and a coloring page prompt encourages creative engagement. This resource is ideal for classrooms seeking a rigorous, engaging, and accessible ancient history reading passage with read aloud audio and Spanish translation options.

CONTENT PREVIEW

Roma. Il Panteon
Source: Library of Congress - Photoglob Co.

The civilization of Ancient Rome has had an enduring impact on modern society. Rome, founded in 753 BCE along the banks of the Tiber River in present-day Italy, grew from a small city-state into a vast empire that covered much of Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia. The legacy of Rome is visible in many aspects of daily life today, from laws and government structures to architecture and language.

One of Rome’s greatest contributions is its system of law. The Roman Republic developed the concept of a written code, called the Twelve Tables, around 450 BCE. These laws were publicly displayed so all citizens could know their rights and duties. The Roman legal system introduced key ideas, such as the principle that people are innocent until proven guilty and the right to a fair trial. Many modern legal systems, including those in the United States and Europe, are based on these Roman principles.

Roman government also influenced modern democracies. The Roman Republic used a system of representative government, where citizens elected leaders called senators to make decisions for them. This idea can be seen today in parliaments and congresses around the world. Furthermore, Romans created a complex network of cities connected by roads and aqueducts, demonstrating advanced engineering and infrastructure. The famous Roman roads, some of which still exist, allowed for trade, communication, and the swift movement of armies.

In architecture, the Romans borrowed ideas from the Greeks and improved them. They developed the arch, the dome, and concrete, allowing them to build large structures like the Colosseum and the Pantheon. The Colosseum, completed in 80 CE, could seat over 50,000 people and was used for public events, showing the importance of entertainment and civic life. Roman baths, forums, and amphitheaters became models for public spaces in later cities.

Another major legacy is the Latin language. Latin was the language of government, literature, and daily life in Rome. While Latin is no longer spoken as a native language, it is the basis for the Romance languages, including Spanish, French, and Italian. Many English words, especially in law, science, and government, come from Latin roots. Roman beliefs, such as respect for citizenship and civic duty, also continue to influence societies today.

The legacy of Rome endures through its contributions to law, government, architecture, and language. By studying Ancient Rome, we can better understand how past innovations and beliefs continue to shape our world.

The story of Rome connects to broader themes of cultural exchange, technological advancement, and the development of modern societies that students will explore throughout this course.

Interesting Fact: Roman concrete was so durable that some ancient harbors built by the Romans are still standing after more than 2,000 years.

What year was Rome founded?

753 BCE450 BCE80 CE100 CE

What was the Twelve Tables?

Roman written lawsA type of archA government leaderA Roman language

Which building could hold over 50,000 people?

PantheonColosseumSenate HouseForum

Why did Romans build roads?

For trade and armiesFor entertainmentFor farmingFor language

How did Roman law influence today?

It started modern legal systemsIt ended democracyIt built aqueductsIt created Latin

What is one Roman belief still important today?