During the 1000-year history of Ancient Rome, the Romans developed a vast and sophisticated society that would produce a lasting legacy for Western culture. This is an overview of all facets of Ancient Roman society, including chapters devoted to Rome's economic and social system, its art and architecture - including large-scale building projects such as the Forum, the Colosseum and the Appian Way - and the everyday life of its inhabitants. It presents not only the accomplishments of the most eminent citizens of Ancient Rome, such as Julius Caesar, Cicero and Seneca, but also the often surprising details about the activities, customs and beliefs of common people - matrons and children, soldiers and tax collectors, musicians and craftsmen, slaves and poets.