01
02
03
04
05
06
History
The Roman legion was one of the most effective military formations of the ancient world.
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
History
The Roman Empire at its height contained about 20–25% of the world's total population.
16
Language
The word 'salary' comes from 'sal' (salt) — Roman soldiers were sometimes paid in salt.
17
History
The Roman Emperor Caligula once declared war on the sea god Neptune and had his soldiers stab the ocean.
18
19
History
The Roman Empire was so vast that at its height it covered about 5 million square kilometers.
20
History
Hadrian's Wall stretched 73 miles across northern Britain to mark the northern limit of the Roman Empire.
21
History
The Byzantine Empire continued the Roman Empire for nearly 1,000 years after the fall of Rome in 476 AD.
22
Language
The word 'salary' comes from the Latin 'salarium,' referring to payments made to Roman soldiers in salt.
23
History
Roman gladiatorial games were often less lethal than popular culture suggests — gladiators were expensive to train.
24
History
Before refrigeration, salt was so crucial for food preservation that Roman soldiers were sometimes paid in salt — hence the word 'salary.'
25
History
The Ming Dynasty of China built 25,000 miles of roadways, rivaling Rome's famous road network.
26
History
The Roman Empire's road network stretched 400,000 km, with 80,000 km of paved roads.
27
28
History
The Roman festival of Saturnalia — involving gift-giving, feasting, and role reversals — influenced Christmas traditions.
29
History
Roman aqueducts used gravity alone to transport water over hundreds of kilometers — some still function today.
30
Technology