Tujuan
1. 🏛️ Gain a clear understanding of Ancient Rome, with a special focus on the Roman Empire and its remarkable contributions to architecture, law, and language.
2. 🌍 Discover the deep-rooted impact of Roman civilisation on today’s Western society, and see how its legacy continues to shape our political, legal, and linguistic systems.
Kontekstualisasi
It might surprise you that Ancient Rome not only left behind iconic monuments like the Colosseum, but also introduced many of the legal principles we follow even today. For instance, the Justinian Code, compiled during the 6th century, was an effort to bring together various Roman laws that had evolved over centuries. This clearly shows how enduring the Roman legal system has been for the West. Moreover, Latin – the official language of the Roman Empire – is the root of many modern languages including Portuguese, Spanish, French, Italian, and even English. In this way, Ancient Rome is more than just a subject from the past; it is intricately woven into the fabric of our present world!
Topik Penting
Roman Architecture
Roman architecture is celebrated for its technical ingenuity – think of the revolutionary use of concrete and the construction of massive structures like aqueducts, colosseums, and well-laid roads. These creations were not just built for utility, but also symbolised the tremendous power and prestige of Rome. For example, the Arch of Triumph, originally designed to commemorate military victories, has been an inspiration for similar structures around the globe, such as the Washington Arch in New York.
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Use of Concrete: The Romans perfected a type of concrete that enabled them to build grand structures like the Pantheon, whose dome still leaves us in awe today.
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Roman Roads: The extensive network of roads constructed by the Romans enhanced communication and trade across the empire, showcasing their exceptional planning and engineering skills.
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Bridges and Aqueducts: Structures like the aqueduct in Segovia reflect the Romans’ knack for solving practical problems such as water supply, highlighting their ability to innovate for urban sustenance.
Roman Legal System
Under the reign of Justinian I, the Roman legal system was systematically codified in the Corpus Juris Civilis, thereby influencing legal traditions across much of the Western world. Notions such as the presumption of innocence and the right to a fair trial are some of the enduring legacies of Roman law that continue to form the bedrock of many present-day legal frameworks.
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Corpus Juris Civilis: Formed around 529 AD, this comprehensive set of laws harmonised existing Roman legal customs and formed the foundation for a just legal system.
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Contemporary Influence: The ideas embedded in Roman law have deeply influenced the civil law tradition, which is still followed in various parts of Europe and in many former European colonies.
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Legal Principles: Key contributions like property rights, contract law, and the significance of eyewitness testimony remain integral to modern legal thinking.
Linguistic Influence: Latin and Its Derivatives
Latin, being the official language of the Roman Empire, is the groundwork for many modern languages. Its influence is vast, especially in technical and scientific terms, legal language, and in the overall grammatical composition of languages such as Portuguese, Spanish, French, Italian, and English.
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Vocabulary and Terminology: Numerous technical and scientific terms have their origins in Latin, underscoring its continuous relevance in education and professional fields.
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Impact on Culture: The world of literature and law still embraces Latin phrases, reinforcing the historical connection to Roman culture.
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Evolution of Dialects: Latin’s influence helped shape the Romance languages, each evolving its distinct characteristics while retaining a common root.
Istilah Kunci
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Roman Empire: Refers to the era of centralised government and expansive territorial growth of Rome, roughly from 27 BC to 476 AD.
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Corpus Juris Civilis: A comprehensive compilation of Roman laws established during the reign of Justinian I, which still forms a critical part of European civil law.
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Arch of Triumph: A type of monument in Roman architecture used to celebrate military victories, found in several Roman cities.
Untuk Refleksi
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How do you think the Romans’ prowess in engineering and architecture continues to influence the design and planning of modern cities?
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In what ways do you find that the principles of Roman law still guide our contemporary legal systems and our understanding of justice?
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Why is it important to preserve and study classical languages such as Latin, especially in our increasingly interconnected world?
Kesimpulan Penting
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We have explored how Ancient Rome, particularly during its imperial phase, has had a profound impact on architecture, law, and language – a legacy that is evident in today’s society.
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Our discussion highlighted the influence of Roman engineering innovations, including the use of concrete as well as the construction of roads and aqueducts, on modern urban planning and infrastructure.
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We reviewed the Roman legal system and its codification in the Corpus Juris Civilis, noting how many of its principles continue to underpin current legal practices.
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We also examined the lasting impact of Latin on modern languages, with its influence on technical, scientific, and legal vocabularies remaining significant to this day.
Untuk Melatih Pengetahuan
Prepare a short video or create a slideshow that illustrates how Latin influences your everyday life. You could include common words with Latin origins—be it in names, concepts, or phrases in our local context. Highlight instances where Latin finds its echo in different aspects of our culture and society.
Tantangan
Linguistic Detective Challenge: Select a news article or an academic text and pinpoint words that have Latin roots. Investigate the original meaning of these words in Latin and trace how their meanings have evolved over time. Share your insights in a brief report.
Tips Belajar
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Use online etymological dictionaries to trace the origins of common words in your language and understand their Latin roots.
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Watch documentaries or read articles on Roman architecture, and try spotting elements that you have discussed in class in today’s structures.
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Participate in online study groups or forums focused on Roman history to exchange ideas and learn from others' experiences.
