Romans (Bellum Romanum)

Romans (Latin: Rōmānum) are an ethnic group native to and citizens of the Roman Republic. They are largely based around the, specifically below the and  rivers on the peninsula. Romans near-unanimously follow Jovism as a religion, and the religion plays a large part in daily life. Romans speak Latin, the only surviving language and the parent of many languages in the region.

A small Roman diaspora exists throughout and in minor enclaves all throughout the world. During Rome's near three thousand-year history, its people have contributed greatly to the fields of philosophy, mathematics, physics, chemistry, astronomy, biology, medicine, engineering, linguistics, the social sciences, law, literature, the visual arts, music, and film. It could even be argued that the Romans have founded many of these very fields of study, science, and art.

Religion
Nearly all Romans follow Jovism, a denomination of Paganism, as the polytheistic of Rome. While modern adherents use the religion to define themselves as a people, early Romans adopted the religious practices of peoples brought under and integrated into Roman rule, such as the or. Romans think of themselves as pious people, constantly praying to the gods in times of both need and abundance. The earliest of of Rome's religious institutions could be traced to its founders, particularly, the second , who negotiated directly with the gods. This was the foundation of the mos maiorum, "the way of the ancestors" or simply "tradition", viewed as central to Roman identity. Eventually, the religion of the Romans underwent extensive reformation in the 3rd century based on the life and teachings of Apollonius, who lived two centuries prior.

During his life, Apollonius denounced decadence and greed, healed the sick, gave to the needy, spoke as a law-giver, was condemned by Roman authorities, and was seen as the savior of the world, given to the world by the gods. When he died, his apostles wrote the Biblia, which codified the teachings of Apollonius, along with the earlier stories of the Roman religion before Apollonius' birth. The scripture preached kindness, charity, mercy; then denounced greed, decadence, and envy. These ideas were alien during the time, but quickly became popular among the needy and lower classes of the region, and by the 7th century, it was the religion and philosophy of the people.

Appearance
In general, Romans are relatively short for. Even the men rarely stand much taller than six feet. Although short, Romans are rarely stout and have a rather athletic shape. Among the population, hair color tends to be brunette, although it d

. Romans tend to have somewhat round or heart-shaped jawlines, especially prominent in women. Roman noses are narrow and lips are slightly larger compared to other Europeans. Skin tone among Romans vary slightly

Naming
Roman names are quite unique, distinguishing the Romans from other people. Roman names consist of a combination three personal and family names. Conventionally referred to as the tria nomina. In order, the first name of a Roman is their given name (praenomen). Most of the time, only family and close friends may call a Roman by their given name. The second name of a Roman is their clan name (nomen). Romans are called this name by acquaintances or colleagues. The third name of a Roman is their family name (cognomen). This name is only used during formalities. Few Romans have nicknames (agnomen), which are gained through personal achievements or distinct physical characteristics.

Language
Romans speak Latin, the only surviving language belonging to the Italic language family, and the parent of several languages, such as Spanish, Italian, and Illyrian. The Romans are the source and inventors of the, which is in use by over half of the world's nations. Due to Rome's economic prominence, Latin is used by many as a , or a way to communicate for when people do not share a common language.

Since the sixth century, literacy was used as a way to distinguish proper Romans from vulgar, foreign barbarians who claimed to be Roman. Because of this, literacy rates among Romans have been historically very high. In the modern day, the adult literacy rate exceeds 99% and an illiterate Romans are virtually non-existent.