In the eighth century BC, ancient Rome grew from a small city to a huge empire that encompassed most of Europe, Britain, western Asia , North Africa and the Mediterranean islands. The Roman Empire declined in 190 AD, but Roman culture is still celebrated today. Ancient Rome is known for its captivating culture, especially its religion and sport. Ancient Rome had a distinct religion that contained several different beliefs. The Latin word “religio” means “something that binds”. For the Romans, religion was a binding force between families, peasants and their leaders, between men and spirits. According to the magazine "Roman Religion", "Roman religion was animistic, that is, it included the belief that spirits (called numina) dwelt in natural objects, such as trees or rocks, creating a sort of “force field” around them. » (1). The animistic character of Roman religion helps to explain why Rome, unlike Greece, had no mythology of its own: it worshiped inanimate objects rather than people. A second article entitled "Roman Religion" states that "the forces present in inanimate objects had to be reckoned with and that human beings should try to appease the spirits" (1). However, the pacification of the numina did not require strong moral behavior on the part of the Romans. For this reason, the cult was very popular in Roman religion. “Roman Religion” also proclaims that “ancient Roman religion consisted of…performing prescribed rituals to gain the favor” of the spirits (1). These rituals usually involved sacrifices. The primary purpose of the ritual was to communicate with the numina and receive their approval, which they believed was necessary for success (“Roman Religion” 1). The numina were believed to have...... middle of paper ...... Britain, western Asia, North Africa and the Mediterranean islands by the eighth century BC. Although it declined by 190 AD, Roman religion and athletics are still admired today. Works Cited “Athletics Games”. The Greenhaven Encyclopedia of Ancient Rome. Don Nardo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2002. 144-145. World history in context. Internet. April 1, 2014. “Roman religion. » Ancient Greece and Rome: an encyclopedia for students. Ed. Carroll Moulton. Flight. 3. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1998. 173-176. World history in context. Internet. March 31, 2014. “Roman Games.” Civilization of the ancient Mediterranean: Greece and Rome. Ed. Michael Grant and Rachel Kitzinger. New York: Scribner's, 1988. World History in Context. Internet. April 1, 2014. “Roman Religion.” New Catholic Encyclopedia. 2nd ed. Flight. 12. Detroit: Gale, 2003. 323-327. World history in context. April 1. 2014.