The history of ancient Rome, Italy is one of the most fascinating and complex in the world. It began as a small city-state in the 8th century BC, and over the centuries it grew to become one of the most powerful empires in the world. The Roman Empire was the dominant political and cultural force in Europe and the Mediterranean for over a thousand years. Its legacy can still be seen today in many aspects of modern life. It was the birthplace of democracy, law, literature, art, engineering, and architecture. Its influence spread to many parts of the world, and its language, Latin, is still used in many countries today. The Roman Empire was eventually divided in two, and eventually fell in the 5th century AD. Despite its fall, the legacy of ancient Rome still lives on in many parts of the world.