The Roman Forum (Forum Romanum) was the center of day-to-day life in ancient Rome, serving as the site for elections, public speeches, criminal trials, and gladiatorial matches. Located in the small valley between the Palatine and Capitoline Hills, it was the site of the city's most important religious and political buildings. Significant structures include the Curia Julia (the Senate House), the Temple of Saturn, and the Arch of Titus. Over centuries, as the Roman Empire grew, the Forum became increasingly crowded with monuments and temples, reflecting the city's status as a global superpower. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the Forum fell into disrepair and was eventually used as a pasture for cattle, earning it the nickname 'Campo Vaccino' (Cow Field) before systematic excavations began in the 18th and 19th centuries.