If you’re not familiar with the “Roman Empire” trend taking over Gen Z social media, especially TikTok, maybe you’ve been living in a different era! The trend hinges on one question directed from women to their male partners, family members and friends: “How often do you think about the Roman Empire?” The answers do vary, but the general consensus that women have come to is that men, especially white men, think about the Roman Empire a lot. Like, a lot, a lot. Some men respond with general confusion at the term, but more answer with time frames such as, “twice a month,” or “three times a week.”
Personally, I asked my brother this question (shout out to Justin), and he initially responded sarcastically (I think) with “all the time” and then answered more seriously with “twice a week.” You’re probably wondering what we all are: why does that come up so often? Why does it seem like the entire male population is spending their days ruminating about the Domus Aurea? To be fair, as a fully Italian family, we might be more prone to daydreaming about the betrayal of Caesar and Brutus, but I can’t remember the last time I was reflecting on ancient Rome (outside of class), and I lived there for almost four months my freshman year through the NUin program.
Despite the absurdity of the question, there is so much value in remembering history and the lessons that older generations have discovered and documented. Who’s to say that women can’t participate in the fun? Men may spend their time plotting about bringing back the era of aqueducts and public bathhouses, but what pops up in your head this frequently?
Without further ado, here are our personal “Roman Empires” as Gen Z women:
The Salem Witch Trials
The story of the trials is filled to the brim with sexism and injustice. Everything that a woman did could have been considered “hysteria” or “witchcraft,” and I too would probably be a hysterical witch if I had lived in Massachusetts 330 years ago. It feels like modern-day “cancel culture,” except it’s men canceling women’s lives. What’s new? I’ve been to Salem a handful of times, and I highly recommend taking a day trip there and checking out the Salem Witch Museum, the Witch House and the Old Burying Point cemetery for the most immersive and revealing witchy experience.
Greek/Roman Mythology
As a recovering Percy Jackson fandom kid, I doubt that there’s a day that goes by where I don’t think about the old gods. Maybe this one does tie into the Roman Empire, but it could be the softer version. It seems like the astrology of politics. There are so many interesting moral fables and situations involving the gods, demi-gods and mortals that can be applied to real life, and the fact that each god has unique personalities and flaws despite being considered “perfect” and “divine” beings always resonated deeply with me.
Pro tip: if you have a free writing assignment in any writing class or you can’t think of something to write about, I suggest starting with a story from Greek mythology. The ideas and details within them are richer than you would think, and they always provide an attention-grabbing way to prove a point from an ethical perspective.
Ancient civilizations always astound me. How were they able to accomplish, discover and build so much with so little knowledge and resources? Maybe it was help from the aliens, maybe some secret lost wisdom that we no longer have access to, or maybe humans really are more intelligent than we get credit for. Either way, a more intense study on the oldest humans could bring up some fascinating information.
Cleopatra/The Pyramids/Ancient Egypt
Speaking of ancient civilizations, one of the most notable ones has to be Ancient Egypt. Egypt has left a huge cultural and technological impression on the rest of the world existing from as early as 3100 BC. From early on, I remember learning about the Great Pyramid of Giza, hieroglyphics, the mummification process and more. The one specific exhibition in the Natural History Museum in Washington, D.C. stays permanently engraved in my mind. I remember doing multiple school projects on Ancient Egypt, including one where I had to make my own hieroglyphic system. The presence of Ancient Egypt in TV shows or Egyptian-inspired civilizations is numerous and often involves time travel and something to do with the pyramids.
One of the biggest questions when it comes to the ancient civilizations is how exactly the great pyramids were constructed. Some believe that they were built using labor from enslaved peoples while others say that aliens are the source of the pyramids. Neither of those are correct, but it still remains somewhat a mystery. The simple act of lifting the stones up hundreds of feet into the air is not an easy feat, and it’s unclear what technology was used to achieve this. The math and engineering that went into the construction suggests the understanding of 𝛑 far before modern mathematicians began using it, which further drives the question of how people managed to build them.
The Roaring’ 20s/The 1950s
“I was just born in the wrong generation! What era would you rather have been born in?” For women, this question can be complicated and tricky. It feels common to think about what you would be doing if living in a different time, and for me, the roaring 20s and the 1950s golden era of capitalism are the two most significant periods to live in as a woman.
The 1920s was a period of social revolution and rapid economic growth. The style of women’s clothing and the empowering movement of androgynous fashion is so interesting and unique to the time period that it can feel like a different world. The Harlem Renaissance, Prohibition and, of course, the flappers all symbolized the rapidly changing youth.
The 50s seem to be a massive backpedal from the 1920s in that it was all about capitalism, suburbia, corporate America and nuclear family units. Post-World War I and II, peace and security were the focus of society. For me, the most notable aspect of this era is the hard-decided gender roles that make me wonder what it would’ve been like to be a young woman growing up in that seemingly suffocating environment.
My favorite influential figure from the 50s is Marilyn Monroe. The story of Norma Jeane Baker taking on the persona of Marilyn has a cerebral grip on me like no other. I urge you to look into her story. It is depressing at times, but it is even more revealing how normal people can become world-renowned celebrities, especially confident, beautiful women thrust into the world of the 1950s.
You may have heard the term before, or you may have no clue what I’m talking about right now. But I guarantee that you have had the pleasure of experiencing one before. PhET is a company developed by UC Boulder that creates STEM-related online simulations for students to use for free.
I have very distinct memories of completing the “states of matter,” “static electricity” and “color vision” labs throughout my middle school education. These labs were always something to look forward to as they were fun and engaging. The hands-on approach made learning tricky concepts much more manageable and provided a stress free way to explore the love for science.
PhET Labs have definitely stuck with me to this day, making it one of my personal Roman Empires. There are even a few simulations that can be applicable to college concepts and might be fun to check out!