You know about the aqueducts, the perfectly straight roads and that big wall they built to keep out the Scots. You've heard of the mad Emperors, like the one who made his horse a senator. Rome ruled most of the ancient world at one time, but what has that done for you lately?

How would modern life be different if there had never been a Roman Empire? What is the legacy of the most powerful civilisation the world had even seen? Given the Romans' tendency to 'borrow' their best ideas from the people they conquered, what can be thought to be purely 'Roman' anyway?

• At least one in three English words are said to have come from Latin. How would the language sound today if not for the Roman empire?

• Fancy a spot of Roman cuisine? Dust off your best garum¹ recipe and think yourself lucky Italians now prefer pizza...

• Do modern buildings sometimes look familiar? What about landmarks like statues, towers and columns?

• Is there something Roman about modern politics? While the Greeks have a reputation for idealism, the Romans are famous for bending the rules when they had to.

• Then of course there are the aqueducts, straight roads and that wall.

Straighten your togas and share your thoughts with us! The best comments may be used in a future Edited Entry.