Ancient Greeks and Romans.

Running head ANCIENT GREEKS AND ROMANS par and Contrast of Grecians and romishs World Civilization 1 HIS 103 There were umpteen an early(a)(prenominal) different gardenings and nicetys in the ancient origination. Each of the cultures had their own usance and ethnology that either set them apart from the equipoise of the earth or rendered them sympathetic. Two civilizations that stand a multitude of similarities as sound(p) as differences ar the classics and the roman prints. In the eyeb each(prenominal) of whatsoever, the Greeks and Romans are synonymous. While they do go through their share of similarities, they in like manner countenance delimit characteristics that make them extraordinarily different.The Greeks and the Romans are similar and different in some(prenominal) aspects including religious belief, neighborly/political aspects, influence of geographic factors and the long-lasting effect they set out had on later civilizations. Abraham Linco ln once said, When I do good, I feel good when I do mediocre, I feel bad. Thats my righteousness. If only the Greeks and Romans thought of Religion with more than(prenominal) simplicity. twain ancient Roman and Greek civilizations took their religion very seriously and strengthened temples and shrines showing their appreciation to the gods. Religion was a very important aspect of Greek society and culture.They participated in sacrifices and regular worships of gods for the conclusion of unifying the people in a common goal to please the Gods. The Greeks were a polytheistic civilization and believed that their gods would protect their city-states if they were kept appeased. The Greeks pleased their gods by frequently perform rituals, sacrifices and ceremonies. Greek religion was more(prenominal) than legendary tales and fictitious myths it was a complex nerve with for all(prenominal) unitary city-state containing its own divinities, which acted to cement the dust of citizens into a true community (OConnell, 1999) .In this concept, the Romans were similar. They alike were polytheistic and very concerned well-nigh appeasing their gods. The Romans were great copiers. They borrowed umpteen of their gods from the Greeks, that unlike Greek gods, they were more frigidity and formal and did non have as much of a personality. The Romans lived under the gods and always tried to please them with rituals and sacred rites. The Romans also performed humans and animal sacrifices in summing up to the ceremonies. Over the years, these rituals became very complex and mandatory special people to perform them.Unlike the Greeks, the Romans had priests who were normally distinguished statesmen or generals. Roman religion and politics were intermeshed, and it was not uncommon for the emperor (during the empire stop consonant) to be worshipped as a god himself (OConnell, 1999) . Because the Greeks were separate into many different city-states, they had m any different forms of disposal. Aristotle divided the Greek governments into monarchies, oligarchies, tyrannies and democracies. In 510 B. C. he city-state of capital of Greece created the first democratic government and shortly thitherafter, the rest of the city-states followed suit (Carr, Ancient Greek Government, 2009) . They no womb-to-tomb had virtuoso bingle leader as the Romans did. capital of Italy was to begin with ruled by kings, in a monarchal system. After this time period known as the Ancient Roman period, the Roman nation was formed in 509 BC. The Roman Republic provided for a more representative government. Roman imperialism created a muscular gap in wealth and loving classes within capital of Italy.With such power and wealth, there was great economic as well as social conflict. The noblemen of Rome were forever fighting for more wealth as small farm owners suffered when large plantations were macrocosm formed with slaves. The Roman nobles were fighting for avariciousness and personal wealth creating extensive conflicts in Rome. Despite the conflict, the development of political institutions was one of Romes great accomplishments (Carr, 2009) . As the documentary source Histories The Roman paper clear exemplifies, the Romans had a very utile political system.As Polybius states in this excerpt, For the people is the sole fountain of honor and of punishment and it is by these two things and these alone that dynasties and constitutions and in a word, human society are held unitedly for where the distinction between them is not sapiently drawn both in speculation and practice, there no undertaking butt joint be properly administered as indeed we might expect when good and bad are held in exactly the corresponding honor. It is clear that the Roman constitution is equally balanced in power, and has contributed to the strength of the Roman ivilization (Sherman, Grunfeld, Markowitz, Rosner, & Heywood, 2006) . Dr. Martin Luthe r King Jr. once said, ladder force hate each other because they panic each other, and they fear each other because they dont know each other, and they dont know each other because they are often disjunct from each other. The many ancient Greek city states were isolated from one other by the mountainous terrain of the Greek peninsula. a good deal of their land was barren so almost Greek city-states arose along the coastline. Map 4-2 clearly shows the extent of Greek settlements somewhat the Mediterranean and Black Seas between 750 and 550 B.C. E. It exemplifies the Greek civilization by illustrating the location of the Greek colonies in comparison to the competing Phoenician colonies that the Greeks often came into turn over with. It also shows the importance of colonies for diffusing culture through knocked out(p) the Mediterranean and explains how Greek and Graeco-Roman civilization came to dominate most of the Mediterranean basin even when the Greeks were no longer a gr eat military-political force and their colonies ceased to be independent. Because the Greeks were surrounded by mountains, they were not as open to attack as the Romans were.Map 5-1 clearly shows some of the civilizations that occupied Italy and its immediately meet territory during the fifth hundred B. C. E. It and exemplifies the Roman civilization by illustrating the many influences other civilizations had upon the Roman Republic. Before Rome became a dominant power, the Etruscans, Carthaginians and Greeks all ready had strong literate sophisticated civilizations. As Rome expanded, many of the institutions and practices of these civilizations were incorporated into their civilization.Therefore, Romes geographic and cultural environs played an important role in the development of the Roman Republic (Sherman, Grunfeld, Markowitz, Rosner, & Heywood, 2006) . The Roman and Greek cultures have long been esteem for their literature, government and scientific accomplishments. They have not only left their foot prints on later civilizations, but they expect to be studied and admired all around the world today. Greece was home to Herodotus (the first historian) who is regarded as the father of history. Greece is also ecognized for accomplishments such as the initial development of dramatic and comedic plays, and for being the home of the first mathematicians. In addition, Greece contributed many developments in political science including the worldly concern of state and republics and the fundamentals of classical occidental philosophy, as found in the whole kit and caboodle of Plato and Aristotle (Conservapedia, 2008) . In The Republic as compose by Plato, land is scrutinized. This literary work exemplifies the Greek civilization by illustrating how nation was implemented, yet also met with resistance and criticism.Plato says Because of the independence which reigns there they have a off assortment of constitutions and he who has a sagacity to est ablish a State, as we have been doing, must go to a democracy as he would to a funfair at which they sell them, and pick out the one that suits him then, when he has made his choice, he may found his State. It is clear that Plato did not hold the Athenian form of democracy in highest regards (Sherman, Grunfeld, Markowitz, Rosner, & Heywood, 2006) . The Romans contributed just as much as the Greeks did.Their styles of architecture are yet employ around the world today. approximately importantly, Christianity arose and was adopted as the official faith of the Roman Empire. Although it contradicted Roman civilization by insisting that there is only one God, it withal pertaind to spread throughout Rome and much of atomic number 63. The Roman Republic conquered Greece in 146 BC. They took much of the Greek religion and incorporated it into their own until the 4th century CE when Christianity prevailed. The Greco-Roman population in the seventeenth century did much to define the modern western world.The philosophy focused strictly on the role of sympathy and inquiry. Many philosophers today concede that GrecoRoman philosophy has shaped the entire western sandwich thought since its foundation. Their architecture styles are even-tempered used as well as the democratic form of government which is used not only in Europe but all around the world. 17th century Greco-Roman literature is still renowned, studied by historians and taught in schools all over the world. Greek and Roman contributions to the contemporary world are great in both number and significance.Their advancements in mathematics, architecture, science, philosophy, government and literature not only mod their own civilizations but the world as a whole. Humanity has benefited greatly from the contributions of the Greeks and Romans. The world would be an entirely different taper if the Romans and Greeks had not existed. The Greeks and Romans have existed in the world as separate entities and also as one community. Because they have been so intermingled, in some ways they are parallel.The Greeks and the Romans are similar and different in many aspects including religion, social/political aspects, influence of geographical factors and the lasting effect they have had on later civilizations. The Greek and Roman civilizations were some of the greatest civilizations to evolve. They mutually succeeded in showing other civilizations both how to succeed and how to bomb at the things which men might try. Both civilizations had their peaks and their declines. While these two great civilizations prolong to present their similarities, they also are extensively different.Just like many countries today have their similarities and also their differences. Despite the many proficient and societal advances achieved by societies today, wars still continue to ravage the world. That fact has not changed. Differences continue to divide the globe and until we can insure them, will always do so. Our greatest strength as a human race is our ability to acknowledge our differences our greatest weakness is our failure to embrace them (Henderson, 2009). References (2008, family 7). Retrieved March 11, 2009, from Conservapedia http//www. conservapedia. com/Greek_influence_on_Western_CultureCarr, K. (2009, January 15). Ancient Greek Government. Retrieved April 11, 2009, from Kidepede http//www. historyforkids. org/ chequer/greeks/government/ Carr, K. (2009, January 15). Kidepede. Retrieved April 11, 2009, from Roman Government http//www. historyforkids. org/ condition/romans/government/ Grunfeld, A. T. , Heywood, L. , Markowitz, G. , Rosner, D. , & Sherman, D. (2006). World Civilizations Sources, Images, and Interpretations (4th Edition ed. , Vol. I). in the altogether York McGraw Hill. OConnell, L. (1999). Paganism Past Present. Retrieved March 10, 2009, from ThinkQuestdepository library