[WalterBright]

Even if 99.9% is lost, that still leaves behind far more than we have about the Romans.

I recall an hour-long history program on TV where a whole narrative was concocted out of the engraving of a gladiator's name on a stone.

[Karrot_Kream]

> Even if 99.9% is lost, that still leaves behind far more than we have about the Romans.

Indeed, and due to complex historical factors, we have much more Roman writing than we have writing from other civilizations. It's important to remember that there are entire swathes of history and entire regions from where we have no actual history, only circumstantial writing by other peoples such as trading partners.

[thaumasiotes]

> and due to complex historical factors, we have much more Roman writing than we have writing from other civilizations.

Most other civilizations, yes, but Mesopotamia is beating Rome hands down for availability of writing.