Early Roman civilization was complex, extremely modern for its time, and legendary in some of its opulence and excesses. The early Romans valued their agrarian roots, their families, and showed the world what a complex civilization could grow to and accomplish. Ancient Rome was a marvel of architecture, engineering, government, and society, and the people lived good lives, filled with leisure activities and artistic pursuits. Rome and the surrounding areas developed some of the mores and ideas that would lead them into the modern world and that would influence many other civilizations and cultures. The ancient Roman world is fascinating to study, and to see what they accomplished so many thousands of years ago is quite enlightening, even today.

             In pre-Christian Rome, religion was still important. The Romans worshipped a variety of gods and goddesses and enjoyed rituals and symbols that would ensure their health, happiness, and continued prosperity. The Romans also kept their ancestors memories alive in their homes and used their funeral masks in yearly rituals and religious ceremonies (Matthews & Platt 111). This indicates the Romans were spiritual even before Christianity entered their realm, and also indicates how the ritualism of Catholicism, their major modern religion, would appeal to them later in history.

             Perhaps one of the most important aspects of their society was their openness to change and the influence of others. Many scholars believe the Romans simply copied Greek culture and civilization in developing their own, but others dispute this belief. Another historian familiar with Roman culture writes, "The Romans were the first and last people to unite the whole of the Mediterranean littoral under a single authority, and they maintained their empire for centuries--one of the most remarkable feats in history" (Jenkyns 3). Certainly, Roman culture was influenced by the successful Greek culture, but they also developed strong differences which would remain individual and important to their culture and the world.