The Roman Empire Never Died—We’re Living in It

Table of Contents

• Introduction

• The Roman Empire Never Died—We’re Living in It

• Quote of the Day

• Art: Roman Mosaic from Sicily

• Featured Art (Premium): Mosaic from Pompei

• Featured Architecture (Premium): Pantheon

• Featured Travel (Premium): The Seven Hills of Rome

• Featured Food (Premium): Ancient Roman Cuisine

• Featured Culture (Premium): Glimpse of Roman Culture

In today’s newsletter, we’re exploring how ancient Rome shaped the foundations of our modern world—from engineering feats and urban planning to infrastructure and daily life. In the premium section, we dive deeper into the art and culture of the Roman Empire, tracing its influence on everything from architecture to visual storytelling. We also take you on a journey across the legendary Seven Hills of Rome.

Imagine walking through a city and realizing that almost everything around you—roads, buildings, water systems, even the calendar on your phone—has roots in one ancient civilization. The Roman Empire didn’t just conquer territories. It built systems. And those systems shaped the world we live in today.

Let’s start with Roman concrete. They didn’t invent it, but they made it nearly immortal. Their trick? Mixing volcanic ash with lime. It created a material so strong that buildings like the Pantheon are still standing after 2,000 years. Modern engineers are still trying to figure out why it hasn’t cracked like our concrete does.

Now think about roads. Rome built over 250,000 miles of them. Straight, solid, and layered, their roads connected the empire from Britain to Syria. These weren’t just paths—they were the arteries of an empire. And their design? It influenced the way we build highways today.

Their mastery of the arch changed everything. Before Rome, most structures relied on straight beams that couldn’t handle much weight. But the Roman arch distributed pressure outward and downward. That’s why they could build aqueducts across valleys, massive bridges, and the Colosseum. The arch made architecture stronger, faster, and more efficient.

Speaking of aqueducts—those were miracles of engineering. Gravity did all the work. Water traveled from mountain springs across dozens of miles into cities, all without pumps. Rome’s population could grow because fresh water flowed into homes, baths, and fountains with incredible precision.

They didn’t stop there. Romans harnessed river power using watermills. Grain production got faster and more efficient. They used the same tech to power workshops. It was a quiet industrial leap—centuries before the steam engine.

Comfort mattered too. Roman villas had central heating. The hypocaust system sent warm air under the floors and through walls. Bathhouses and homes stayed toasty even in winter. It was the ancient world’s version of underfloor heating—long before thermostats and radiators.

They also changed how people stored knowledge. Scrolls were fragile and awkward. So they switched to the codex—a bound book of stacked pages. Easier to carry, easier to reference. That shift shaped how books are made to this day.

And believe it or not, they had newspapers. The Acta Diurna—“Daily Acts”—were carved in stone or metal and posted in public places. Legal notices, military updates, market news. That was their version of mass communication, long before ink met paper.

Then there’s the Julian calendar. Introduced by Julius Caesar in 45 BC, it was one of the first attempts to standardize time. Months got fixed lengths. Leap years got added. And the structure? We still use it today, just slightly adjusted by the Gregorian reform.

Roman doctors also led the way in battlefield medicine. They had surgical tools, triage procedures, and even pain management techniques. Military hospitals treated wounded soldiers with surprising efficiency. It laid the foundation for modern emergency care.

They also cared about poverty. Rome’s Annona system distributed free grain to the poor, especially in cities like Rome. It kept people fed, prevented riots, and acted as a safety net. A primitive welfare system, but effective.

Urban life demanded density. So they built insulae—multi-story apartment blocks made of stone and wood. They weren’t always safe (fires were a risk), but they packed thousands into neighborhoods. In many ways, they were early models of apartment buildings.

Rome even figured out firefighting. Their Vigiles weren’t just watchmen—they were a city’s first responders. When fires broke out in the tightly packed neighborhoods of Rome, they rushed in with tools, water buckets, and even chemical fire suppressants. That was the birth of organized fire departments.

And finally, they brought light indoors. Romans were among the first to use glass windows. Not just for decoration—but to let in sunlight while keeping out wind and rain. It was a simple innovation that transformed architecture.

So, here’s the thing. Rome fell. But its ideas never did. We still drive on their roads, live in their style of housing, heat our homes with versions of their systems, and organize our time using their calendar. Makes you wonder: have we advanced? Or are we just continuing what they started?

Share the Culture Explorer newsletter with two friends or family members and unlock one month of Premium access. Want to support us directly? Grab a monthly or yearly membership and help keep the journey going!

Art

Art

In a quiet corner of the ruins of Pompeii, archaeologists uncovered a striking mosaic—an image frozen in stone that draws us back to the ancient world of ideas. It depicts the Academy of Plato, a serene gathering of philosophers in animated dialogue, standing beneath a grove of trees. Their gestures are vivid, their expressions focused, as if caught mid-argument or revelation. This wasn’t just decoration; it was a tribute to intellectual life, preserved in a Roman home centuries after Plato’s time. The homeowner wasn’t just showcasing taste—he was aligning himself with a tradition of thought that traced back to Athens. In a city known for leisure and luxury, this mosaic reminded guests that philosophy, too, had a place in Roman life.

Architecture

Step inside the Pantheon in Rome, and the scale alone stops you cold. You're standing under a dome that has hovered in place for nearly 2,000 years—unreinforced, unbroken, and still the largest of its kind. The oculus at the center, open to the sky, pours daylight onto the polished floor like a spotlight from the gods. From the outside, it’s a temple; today, a church. But once you enter, geometry takes over: a perfect sphere resting inside a perfect cylinder, the proportions so precise you feel the space before you understand it.

The Pantheon’s construction is as remarkable as its design. Built under Emperor Hadrian around 126 AD, it replaced an earlier temple destroyed by fire. The architects—likely Apollodorus of Damascus or engineers under Hadrian’s patronage—pulled off something revolutionary. They used Roman concrete, a mix of lime and volcanic ash, to create the massive dome. But they didn’t pour it all the same way. The builders varied the materials by weight: heavier stones like basalt formed the lower levels, while lighter pumice made up the top of the dome. This strategic layering reduced pressure on the structure as it rose.

The dome itself rests on thick brick-faced concrete walls over 20 feet wide, forming a base strong enough to carry the immense weight. The interior is carved with five rings of sunken panels, or coffers, which aren’t just decorative—they reduce the weight without sacrificing strength. At the very top, the oculus—an open circular skylight nearly 30 feet wide—relieves even more pressure and serves as the only source of natural light. Rain falls through it, yes, but drains carved into the marble floor quietly carry the water away.

Even the columns in the front portico reflect Roman ambition. Each one, a single piece of Egyptian granite, was quarried in Egypt, transported down the Nile, across the Mediterranean, and hauled up the Tiber to Rome. Each column is over 39 feet tall and weighs nearly 60 tons. Moving them without modern machinery still baffles engineers.

The Pantheon wasn't just built to impress—it was built to last. And it has. Despite earthquakes, invasions, and centuries of change, the structure remains intact. The Romans weren’t guessing. They understood materials, weight distribution, and spatial harmony with a precision that feels modern. But what truly sets the Pantheon apart is how it marries raw engineering with spiritual ambition.

Travel

Visiting the Seven Hills of Rome isn’t just a walk through the city—it’s a walk through layers of power, myth, and memory. Each hill played a role in Rome’s early life, and together they formed the cradle of an empire. You start with the Palatine, the hill where Rome itself was born. According to legend, Romulus stood here, drew a line in the earth, and founded the city. Later, emperors-built palaces so massive the word palace comes from Palatine. Standing there now, with the ruins stretching in every direction, it feels less like sightseeing and more like listening to Rome echo through broken stone.

From there, you can cross over to the Capitoline, once the heart of religious and political life. It was the site of the Temple of Jupiter, where generals gave thanks after victory. Today, it’s home to Michelangelo’s redesign and the Capitoline Museums—but the weight of history hasn’t left. You’re standing where Romans once feared and revered their gods.

The Aventine is quieter. Walk through its leafy streets and you’ll find the famous keyhole of the Knights of Malta, perfectly framing St. Peter’s Dome. It’s a peaceful hill, once home to aristocrats and still marked by ancient churches and gardens. Then there’s the Caelian, once lined with elite homes and military barracks, now a place where ruins and medieval churches blend with the trees of Villa Celimontana.

The Esquiline rises near Termini Station, hiding mosaics, basilicas, and the skeleton of Emperor Nero’s Golden House just beneath its surface. The Viminal, the smallest of the seven, is tucked between the Esquiline and Quirinal. It’s quieter, less visited, but still anchored in ancient memory. And finally, the Quirinal—the highest hill—once home to Roman nobles, now the site of the presidential palace.

Each hill has its own rhythm. Some roar with tourist crowds, others whisper through back alleys and courtyards. But when you walk all seven, you’re tracing the city’s original footprint.

Food

Food in ancient Rome wasn’t static—it evolved over centuries, reflecting the city’s transformation from a kingdom to a sprawling empire. Early Roman meals were modest, often centered on puls, a grain porridge eaten by both rich and poor. But as Rome expanded and encountered new cultures, its cuisine became more varied and sophisticated. Trade with distant provinces brought oysters from Brittany, dates from North Africa, and spices from the East. What began as a mostly agricultural diet slowly incorporated luxury ingredients, rare fruits, and complex recipes, especially among the upper classes.

The typical Roman day started with ientaculum, a light breakfast. A quick prandium around midday held people over until cena, the main meal. In wealthier homes, cena became a multi-course affair with appetizers, main dishes, and desserts, often lasting hours. Lavish banquets included delicacies like dormice, sea urchins, and sweet buns flavored with honey and poppy seeds. At the same time, working-class Romans stuck to simpler meals—bread, olives, legumes, and the occasional cheese or fish.

Archaeology helps us piece together their diets. Excavations in Pompeii and Herculaneum uncovered loaves of bread, bowls of fruit, and fish bones in sewers. In Colchester, England, preserved figs were found in a Roman shop destroyed by Boudica’s rebellion. Even in their final moments, Romans clung to familiar flavors. Their food was deeply regional but also global—an early example of culinary fusion born from conquest, trade, and necessity.

Roman kitchens varied, too. Wealthy homes had separate cooking spaces with ovens, grills, and storage. Poorer families often cooked over a focus, a small hearth. Chefs used tools not unlike today’s—graters, knives, tongs, molds. Some homes even had rooftop kitchens to let out smoke. Romans lacked chimneys, so ventilation came from open courtyards or small windows.

Grains were the staple, especially wheat and emmer. Bread came in many forms and colors, from dark loaves for the poor to refined white bread for the elite. State grain distributions (known as frumentatio) ensured citizens didn’t starve, while soldiers were issued daily wheat, vegetables, and sometimes meat depending on where they were stationed.

Vegetables and legumes rounded out most diets. Romans ate garlic, cabbage, leeks, lentils, chickpeas, and peas. Some vegetables, like orange carrots or tomatoes, hadn’t yet reached Europe. But they knew how to cook creatively—using herbs, sauces, and fermented fish-based condiments like garum to enhance flavor. These sauces were produced in vast quantities and even exported across the empire.

Meat was rarer. Pork was most common, especially sausages. Beef was less popular, and many Romans reserved meat for sacrifices or festivals. Fish and seafood, however, were widely consumed. Romans farmed oysters, raised snails, and paid high prices for fresh mullet or eels. Even common citizens could afford fish on occasion, though the best cuts went to elite banquets.

Fruits and nuts were important, especially for dessert. Apples, pears, figs, and grapes were eaten fresh or dried. More exotic options like peaches and pomegranates appeared as the empire grew. Almonds, walnuts, and pistachios were used in sauces and pastries. Honey was the main sweetener—Romans didn’t have sugar, so they relied on fruit and honey to satisfy a sweet tooth.

Dairy, especially cheese, played a key role in everyday meals. Soldiers and civilians alike ate soft and aged cheeses. Authors like Pliny and Columella wrote about cheesemaking techniques, proving how integral it was to Roman food culture. Milk, though less common as a drink, was sometimes used in cooking or with honey as a dessert.

Romans also flavored their food with an array of spices and herbs—pepper, cumin, coriander, dill, and more. These came from distant parts of the empire and were used with skill, not excess. Cooking wasn’t just about sustenance—it was about balance, presentation, and sometimes even showmanship.

Wine was the drink of choice, cut with water to make it palatable. The rich flavored their wine with honey and spices, while the poor drank sour wine mixed with herbs (posca). Beer existed but had low status and was associated with northern “barbarians.”

Desserts included sweet cakes made with ricotta-like cheese, honey, and fruit. Plated fruits often ended meals. Wealthy Romans sometimes served elaborate tarts and wine-soaked pastries, but the majority settled for simpler sweets or none at all. Still, even without sugar or chocolate, Roman cooks found ways to make dessert memorable.

Food in Rome wasn’t just about hunger—it reflected power, geography, and time. From modest porridges to imperial feasts, every bite told a story of how far Rome had come and how interconnected its empire had become.

Culture