The Birthplace of Western Civilization

The Roman Empire always had an aura of mystique around its description. Filled to the brim with pillars, philosophy, pale statues, and promise, The Roman Empire was quite the surprise when I learned in history class that such as great, albeit flawed, empire fell due to the invasion of a collection of Vandals, Visigoths, and other Germanic tribes.
However, having a wonderful time in Italy with newly found friends gave me the opportunity to visit many of the historical architecture relevant to my curiosity. We saw the Sistine Chapel, went to Vatican City, had a great time in Pisa, admired the ruins of Pompeii, and observed one of the wonders of the world, The Roman Colosseum.
The Colosseum, as described by my World History professor last year, is massive, but it’s even bigger in person. The Romans were known for grand architecture, but it would be no exaggeration to say that the Colosseum was one of the biggest political distractions in history. Empires were often unstable political hierarchies because they must rely on the people having trust for the emperor or they will rebel. So, to keep the people in check, the Colosseum was built to distract people from the real political corruption going on behind closed doors. And it worked!
The Colosseum was built by having an underground trapdoor labyrinth to prop up animals and gladiators to fight for their lives which would certainly be a magical experience in the first century AD, working as an excellent way for an emperor to not only distract, but also entertain their people.
Beyond satisfying my love for history, studying abroad in Italy was a wonderful travel and social experience with my classmates at SPC. I originally went into the program without knowing anyone but ended up making some lifetime friendships with the students and faculty that I became comfortable with throughout the trip. We had breakfast and dinner together and had plenty of free time to have delicious local cuisine in Rome and Florence throughout each day. It truly was an enchanting cultural experience and would strongly consider any student to give it a shot, even if only for Italy’s fantastic gelato!
– Nyden, SPC Italy (High School) Study Abroad Program, March 2024