Providing insight to the beliefs, values, and needs of a particular culture, architecture and design prove crucial to better understanding a group of people. The design of different buildings and structures, for instance, must be functional to meet the needs of a community, but the way in which the design accomplishes its goals reveals the values of that community.

Originating with ancient Roman civilization as early as 509 BCE, Roman architecture has been developed into its own style that draws influence from earlier cultures while simultaneously impacting many stylistic choices of later designs.