Roman

Roman refers to anything connected with the city of Rome, the capital of Italy, or with the ancient state centered on that city. As a noun, a Roman is a person from Rome, whether from ancient times or the modern city. As an adjective, Roman describes origins, culture, or attributes associated with Rome and its influence. The term derives from Latin Roma, the old name for the city.

Ancient Rome began as a monarchy, became a republic in 509 BCE, and developed into a vast empire by the 1st century BCE, lasting in the West until 476 CE. The Roman Republic established representative institutions, while imperial rule centralized power under a single emperor. Roman territories encircled the Mediterranean, merging diverse peoples under a common legal and administrative framework and spreading Roman culture across Europe, North Africa, and the Near East.

Roman influence is evident in law, engineering, architecture, and governance. Roman law laid foundations for many legal concepts later adopted in Europe. Engineering achievements included extensive road networks, bridges, aqueducts, and the widespread use of durable concrete. Latin, the language of Rome, evolved into the Romance languages and remains foundational in law and science. The late empire facilitated the spread of Christianity, shaping religious and cultural development in Europe. Roman numerals (I, V, X, L, C, D, M) are still used in certain clocks, outlines, and monuments.

Today, Roman commonly denotes residents of Rome or things associated with the Roman era or its influence. The term also appears in phrases such as Roman Catholic, referring to the historic church centered in Rome.