Editing Roman Empire (section)

== Religion and culture ==
Roman religion included the worship of traditional Roman gods, household deities, the imperial cult, and religious traditions adopted from conquered regions. Provincial communities continued to worship Greek, Egyptian, Celtic, Germanic, Semitic, and other local deities. Religious practices varied across the empire and often combined Roman and regional traditions.

Judaism remained established in communities across Judea and many Mediterranean cities. Christianity developed in the first century AD and spread through urban and trade networks. Christians faced periods of local and imperial persecution, although the scale and enforcement of these measures differed between reigns and provinces.

Constantine and Licinius ended official restrictions on Christian worship in AD 313. Constantine supported the Church, funded religious buildings, and called the Council of Nicaea in AD 325. Emperor Theodosius I made Nicene Christianity the official form of imperial Christianity in AD 380. Traditional religious practices continued for a time but were increasingly restricted by later imperial governments.

Latin was the main language of government, law, and the army in the western provinces. Greek remained dominant in the eastern Mediterranean and was widely used in administration, education, literature, philosophy, and commerce. Many provincial languages continued to be spoken alongside Latin and Greek.

Roman culture developed from Italian, Etruscan, Greek, and provincial traditions. Roman writers, jurists, engineers, architects, physicians, and administrators produced works that continued to influence later European and Mediterranean societies. Public architecture included roads, bridges, aqueducts, basilicas, baths, temples, theatres, arenas, and defensive works.