There is some misconception that the Romans once enjoyed violence in their society. Much of this story was known from the books of ancient Rome in which writers described their gladiator fights and slave-holding. History tells us that it is true that the Romans enjoyed the events of fighting and that even today it is part of our culture to see people fighting for entertainment and for money, but without no weapon that could kill someone. These special types of events are enjoyed even today. Many violences that have occurred throughout history have shaped our society to be more civilized and also incorporate these themes into literature even today. We see a lot of it in movies, TV shows, books, and even music. This demonstrates how the past has been constructed over centuries, while we still see things in the present. Most of the time, literature has benefited from the common themes of violence and rage to express the author's idea to the reader. Roman society and its violence therefore constitute one of the rare empires that became what is today considered violent. Early Roman literature remains an enduring legacy of ancient Roman culture. "Some of the earliest extant works are historical epics recounting the early military history of Rome, followed (as the Republic expanded) by poetry, comedies, histories, and tragedies." Much Latin literature was heavily influenced by the literary traditions of Greece. Virgil's poetry and stories such as The Aeneid are primarily influenced by the epic story of Homer's Odyssey. Many other authors like Catullus, Horace, Lucan and others follow the same path while proposing new ideas. From then on, Roman literature began to become more... middle of paper ... before affecting everyone's lifestyle. Works Cited The Classical Origins of Western Culture by Roger Dunkle Brooklyn College Original text Copyright © 1986 by Brooklyn College, City University of New York. All rights reserved. Published 1986. Drake, HA “Intolerance, Religious Violence, and Political Legitimacy in Late Antiquity.” Journal of the American Academy of Religion 79.1 (2011): 193-235. Academic research completed. Internet. April 28, 2014.Russello, Gerald. “I have some Georgics in mind.” New criterion 23.10 (2005): 89+. Literary Resource Center. Internet. April 28, 2014 B Forman, Robert J. “Virgil.” Magill'S Survey Of World Literature, revised edition (2009): 1-8. Literary reference center. Internet. April 28. 2014.