All roads lead to Rome: Roman heritage in the culture of the early American republic

The article explores how the Roman legacy prevailed over the Greek one in the early American republic’s cultural life. Americans, due to the spirit of the Enlightenment, were enthralled by antiquity, drew inspiration from Greek and Roman architecture, used Greek and Roman toponyms, etc. But despite the influence of Greek culture, Americans leaned more towards Roman heritage. The founding fathers considered Greek poleis too disorderly, understanding that the Roman governance system was better suited for a big country like the U.S. Americans inherited both the heroes and the villains from the Romans, and Roman influence lived on in American political thought and jurisprudence.