Beginning in the eighth century BCE, ancient Rome grew from a small town into an empire that at its peak covered most of continental Europe, Britain, Western Asia, and Northern Africa. It left an enormous legacy, from the widespread use of the Romance languages to the alphabet and the calendar. When we think of ancient Rome, visions of emperors, gladiators, and astonishing architecture appear, but still there are so many things we might not be familiar with about this astonishing empire.
Want to discover more about ancient Rome? Then check out the following gallery.