Roman Life: Lesson 2

so yesterday I wrote about the things that are part of our lives that come from far away but are so common place now that we forget they weren’t always here. 

I got to thinking. Maybe the Romans were responsible for globalisation in the first place. 

Perhaps ancient civilisations started it all. The Romans came through Europe and around the Mediteranean 2000 years or so ago. 

They famously didn’t make it to Scotland but also stopped at the Rhine in the progress through The Netherlands. 

On the way they brought new methods for making and doing things. Their pottery methods for throwing pots, their aqueducts and central heating systems.

These days early a week goes by without a pasta or pizza dish. Yet remember the mango story I wrote? 

So much of this sharing of ideas was progress and ‘improved’ what the indigenous people were doing.

When we foraged in the woods in October, our guide even pointed out Roman plants that had been seen along the way by the travelling legions. 

There’s a strong sense now that the sharing of ideas, habits and expectations can lead to negative things but it’s very hard to know where the benefits stop. 

I think the gladiator arena is the origin of X Factor too! 

Did the Romans and other ancient civilisations start this problem? 

Is it positive or negative? 

Another Roman idea