The greatness of Roman history lies in the fact that it is, in a
large sense, the history of the world from the time of Rome’s
supremacy. Out of the Roman Empire arose the modern state system of
Europe; and the Roman language, law and institutions are still, in
changed forms, alive and active in the modern world. The influence
of Christianity, and of Greek art and literature, have to a great
extent been preserved and transmitted to us through Rome. Rome
brought all the civilized peoples of the West, including Western
Asia, under one dominion and one bondage; and the culture which was
thus gathered up into one vast reservoir was given off in streams
that, in due season, fertilized the mental soil of the rude and
restless nations which succeeded the fallen empire.