The Romans managed to accomplish very little in 1,000 years considering the extent of their empire. The Greeks contributed much more than the Romans in a shorter time frame and with much less land, power etc. The reason Romans are romanticized is they are the ones who brought civilization to Norther Europe. (more or less. Or, at least, these is what Europeans themselves thought.). These Europeans then created the scientific and industrial revolutions (almost 1,000 years after the fall of Rome, I should note.) Rome also spread Christianity to Europe and maintained control over the Christian religion in Europe via the Pope. So it makes sense that people romanticize Rome because they see it as the predecessor of Europe. Even though Rome itslef is actually not that great, even if we accept that it spread civilization to Europe.