The Romans despite popular belief did a lot of good. They built roads that are still used today. Their buildings are now tourist attractions. Though I’m sure that was not their intention .They gave medieval Europe a common language, Latin. Which eventually turned into the romance languages; Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian and French They and the Greeks were the inspiration for the renaissance. Their architectural achievements can still be seen all over its former empire. The legal system in the western world has been evolved from the Romans. It may not be as obvious at first but the Romans had a huge impact on the geographical landscape because of the size of its empire and its trading routes.
In this blog I have learned about how the Romans geographically impacted modern day Europe. This is my last blog on the Romans. Thank-you for reading

About 50,000 miles (80,000 km) of road spread across Roman civilization. It influenced the western world. They built strong arched bridges (built of course, in a Romanesque style) .Mastered the concept of "running water" using aqueducts that, among other things, supplied public baths similar today's modern water facilities.
At the peak of its power in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, the Roman Empire consisted of some 2.2 million square miles (5.7 million sq. km). Or as much as 1/5 of the world's population (60 million people) claimed Roman citizenship and as many as 120 million people may have lived within the boundaries of the empire. (As shown in the map in my last blog.)

After this the Roman Empire really began to expand its boundaries, 200 B.C. marks the beginning of Roman involvement with Greece and the Hellenistic world. Within 60 years, Greece would be conquered and Rome would expand its empire. This all had a huge geographical impact on the mostly untouched landscape .The Romans would exploit the land they conquered. They would build roman architecture; they would dig mines of gold, silver, lead, iron, bronze, salt, diamonds and all kinds of precious stones. They would enslave the people they conquered; trees would be cut down to fuel this admirable and terrifying monster. Little would be given back to the conquered lands.

In 390 the Gauls seized and plundered the city of Rome. While devastating to the young Republic, The city is saved from total destruction because a group of geese cackling alert Roman soldiers.the Gallic raids also helped to diminish Rome’s powerful enemy the Etruscans, which, in time, helped the rise of Rome to greatness. The Gauls pushed into central Italy by 284 BC. In a series of confrontations, the Romans defeated the tribes that occupied modern day Milan, and established colonies in a buffer zone.
During the next few centuries, Gauls remained a constant threat to the Roman Empire and its citizens’. In the last Samnite War in 295 BC, Gallic tribes joined forces with Samnites and Etruscans in an alliance attempting to stop Rome's rise to power. Only after putting down several revolts by 282 BC did Rome reduce the threat of Gallic invasions. During all of this ,Rome was expanding it geographical region.

Over time Rome developed a strong, prosperous city with temples to the many roman gods. One of the first temples built in Rome was dedicated to Hercules. Many Roman gods had points in common with the Greek gods. Aside from temples Rome had a forum, theatres, prisons, a sewer and other features of a growing town. Rome’s economy was also growing with plenty of trading going on in the forum. Rome was becoming a prosperous city and it had a law and order system the Twelve Tables of the Roman law, were the foundation of the complicated law system a lot of which is still in practice today.

Legend has it that the Rome started by twin brothers, Romulus and Remus descended from the King Numitor of Alba Longa. King Numitor was defeated by his younger brother Amulius. To stop all future claims to the throne, Amulius murdered King Numitor's sons and forced his daughter, Rhea Silvia to become a vestal virgin. Mars, the god of war was infatuated by the beauty of Rhea Silvia and had his way with her while she slept. Nine months later Rhea Silvia bore twins; Romulus and Remus .When Amulius found out, he ordered Rhea Silvia to be thrown in the river and drowned the twins were thrown in with her. Rhea Silvia drowned but the twins were washed down stream. They were washed ashore and found by a she-wolf who had just lost her cubs. The she-wolf raised them as if they were her own .Until one day they were found by Faustulus, a shepherd. Who raised the young boys as his own. As the boys grew into strong young men, they discovered their origins. They raised an army and went to war with Alba Longa. Amulius was killed by the brothers and Numitor was given back his throne. The twins decided to build a city of their own, near to the place where they had been washed ashore. Where to start building the city became a matter of debate between the brothers. Romulus wanted to build the city near Palatine hill, and Remus thought Aventine hill would be better.

Romulus began to build walls on the Palatine Hill however Remus jeered at them because they were so low. To prove this He leaped over them. In a fit of anger Romulus killed Remus, making the first act of Rome bloodshed. Romulus continued to build the city, which would one day become the centre of a mighty empire. He named it Rome after his own name. Its first citizens were men, mainly outlaws and fugitives. The first women were captured from the Sabine tribe. This all happened sometime around the year 753 BC.