Fun Facts
Tools of Ancient Romans:
A Kid's Guide to the History & Science of Life in Ancient Rome

The ancient Roman Empire lasted more than 1,100 years. The United States only has 850 more years to go to catch up!

Rome began as a small city, but eventually ruled territory in three continents and the entire civilized world.

Three and a half million Romans lived in the city of Rome at the height of the Roman Empire. Over 1,500 years after the great city fell, there are fewer than 3 million living in Rome.

London was founded in 43 CE by Romans, who called it Londinium.

Emperor Vitellius (circa 72 CE) spent as much on dining at one banquet as a million of his soldiers made in a year.

Neither women nor slaves were allowed to vote.

Romans jammed the Coliseum, which held 45,000 people, to watch slaves and prisoners get thrown to the lions and gladiators kill one another.

The Circus Maximus, where charioteers raced, held 240,000 people. Only one stadium in the world today, the Indianapolis Speedway, holds more people (250,000).

One of the first governments in the history of the world to offer its people healthcare was Rome under Emperor Trajan (98–117 BCE).

The Romans built roads, aqueducts, and bridges so skillfully that some are still used 2,000 years after construction.

The first Roman road, the Via Appia, was built in 312 BCE to connect Rome with southern Italy. Parts of this road are still in use today!

The alphabet was created by the Greeks, but modified to exactly what it is today by the ancient Romans.