How did we get from a great (and flawed) civilisation like the Romans to a people like the Italians???

Question

The only country (that I am aware of) to have a running marching band...

Answer 1

Err... nurse, bring the white coat with the very long sleeves....

Answer 2

People like the Italians?
I'm not entirely sure what is meant by "like the Italians".
The Roman Empire became a template for all subsequent Empires and world superpowers. The basic structure of that template was quite simple: Money and political influence held by super rich elite, All work necessary for civilisation to sustain itself carried out by poor under class or 'peasants'.
That's pretty much what we still have today boys and girls, the only exception being that peasants in our day and age can buy shiny new cars and other products that temporarily make them feel more important than they actually are.

Answer 3

I had this very conversation the other day when In a Roman Museum in the North East of England , we came to the conclusion that there wasn't that much competition around at the time in terms of culture-us Celts were a pretty wild bunch for a start. As to when the change occured, well post renaissance maybe they becoame rather inward looking whilst the rest of the civilised world looked outwards for its inspiration. The Italians are a pretty nice bunch of people generally but they still have the fire in their belly when it comes to design!

Answer 4

I keep asking that to myself every time I read Roman history or visit Roman ruins. I believe it's because after the end of Roman empire Italy has been conquered and colonised by many different populations, not all of them very civilised. I agree with you. There is not so much to be proud of in being Italian nowadays. Thanks to our wonderful politicians.

Answer 5

The Romans came from many tribes, including the Latin Tribes,Italian Tribes and others. Italian is just one of the tribes. Many inhabitants of Italy are a mixture of these tribes today. I'd be careful what I said about the Romans and Italians as according to the Bible they are coming back and with a fury that will devour the world before the Lord comes. Ave Caesar!

Answer 6

Do they really? That is priceless...shame their infrastructure bears zero resemblance....another question might be: How did we get from a great (and severely flawed) Imperial Britain, to the kind of directionless riff-raff we are today? How will the US get from a great (and woefully short-sighted) Imperial Power to the self-eating implosion of chaos it will be within half a century? The answer is probably that power corrupts, and also makes the powerful complacent and flabby. No regime lasts forever.

Answer 7

HA a running marching band, fantastic. we dont even have a band, we have one lone junkie with a trumpet trying to sell it for a pound. we're a sad and sorry country because we made bad choices along the way, we think we're bigger than we are and have done badly economy-wise as the balance is tipped dramatically. but we like it that way, apparantly. that and bloody chavs.

Answer 8

Yes. A great culture the Italians, eh?
Michelangelo, Corelli, Leonardo, Monteverdi, Puccini, Verdi, Tintoretto, etc..... (I can't think of all the hundreds of others off the top of my head, but you know what I mean.) The Renaissance started in Italy. What did the Romans create in the arts?

Answer 9

The Italians are great, fantastic food & wine, beatiful cities, plenty of cultural history & the Rome Police force have a Lambourghini cop car - how cool is that !!!!!!

Answer 10

Just shows you what can happen when you let those Vandal hordes sack your cities, eh!!

I think "decadence" just about sums it up.

HEY the Italians are very nice people!! But they have little connection with the Romans of ancient history.

Answer 11

I thought Italy was the HOLY Roman Empire...
With the Godfather of all Godfathers at the helm.