Trajan's Forum: the hub of early Roman society The Roman Empire can undoubtedly be considered one of the greatest ancient civilizations. From Augustus to Constantine, the Romans brought both new and borrowed ideas to the world. With the influence of the Greeks, the Romans established a representative government with the Emperor and the Senate as the main legislative and law enforcement bodies. The Roman Empire became prosperous and, with military expeditions, expanded west to modern-day Britain and east into lands near the Caspian Sea. As the Empire expanded into what is now known as Israel, Christianity spread to Rome and, under Constantine, was established as a legal religion under the Edict of Milan of 313. As Roman culture was influenced and changed by all territories now under the Empire's rule, the art and architecture created in this period were also evolving rapidly. Architectural works, especially those from the imperial period, have grown to define the essence of what Roman art truly is. The Pantheon, the Colosseum and the various Roman forums were built to serve a culturally relevant purpose for the time. The Pantheon was built to honor all the ancient Roman deities. The purpose of the Colosseum was to serve as an entertainment center. The Roman forums celebrated the victories and lives of those for whom they were commissioned. One of these forums is that of the emperor Trajan (98-117). The largest and last of the Roman imperial forums, the Trajan complex includes the Basilica Ulpia, Trajan's Column, the Greek and Latin Libraries, the Trajan Markets and the Temple of Trajan. Although Trajan's Forum functions to commemorate the achievements of Trajan's life, it also served as a center for the Romans in the guise of co...... middle of paper ......ome: The Imperial Fora, a Retrospective." American Journal of Archeology 101.2 (1997): 307-30. JSTOR Web. 21 October 2011. Pearson, 2011. 191 -96. Print.Works ConsultedBotsford, George W. “Roman Imperialism.” The American Historical Review 23.4 (1918): 772-78 Web. 17 October 2011. Davis, Penelope JE “The Politics of Perpetuation: Trajan's Column. and the art of commemoration." American Journal of Archeology 101.1 (1997): 41-65. JSTOR. Web. 11 October 2011. Hanfmann, George M.A., Cornelius C. Vermuele, William J. Young, and Hans Jucker. "A Nuovo Trajan." American Journal of Archeology 61.3 (1957): 223-53. JSTOR. Web. 11 October 2011. Spalding Jenkins, Anna. "The Trajan Reliefs in the Roman Forum." American Journal of Archeology 5.1` (1901): 58-82. 2011.