Introduction
Ancient Greece was a Greek civilization that belonged to an era of Greek history which lasted from the ancient age of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of ancient times. The Greek civilization is generally deemed to be the influential culture which founded the basis of the Western Civilization (Mac Kendrick, 6). Ancient Rome on the other hand was an Italic civilization that emerged on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC (Mac Kendrick, 6). Over its turbulent 1200-year history, Ancient Rome developed from a little town into one of the most thriving regal powers in history. Ancient Greece and ancient Rome can be compared and contrasted in dissimilar ways. These civilizations had differences in their structure of government, their commerce, military, position of women in society and their humanity aspects. However, both the Greek and Roman civilizations had some common features in many other aspects.
Greece and Rome had some common features as emerging civilizations. Most importantly, as Rome emerged, it copied most of the Greece culture hence resulting into some similarities in their ways of life. Initially, both of these civilizations had a similar geographical terrain. Notably, both the Greece and Rome were Mediterranean countries (Mac Kendrick, 6). Additionally, there were some common characteristics in their economy. At some point, both Greece and Rome had to rely on agriculture, mining and coinage to run their respective economies. In both civilizations also, wealth acted as a measure of the differing social classes in society. Furthermore, the religion and governments of both the Greece and Rome civilizations had some similarity aspects in away. In both cities, they believed in same gods as much as these gods were given different names and traits (Mac Kendrick, 12). Both their governments on the other hand originated from kings and both of them emerged as city states (Mac Kendrick, 12). Lastly, the Greek and Roman civilizations shared a common philosophy. Both the philosophies of these civilizations gradually surfaced from religious awe into inquisitiveness about the standards and elements of the natural world (Mac Kendrick, 13).
As much as Greece was the elder civilization and influenced Rome in dissimilar ways, Rome later managed to diverge in considerable ways thus resulting in numerous disparities between the two civilizations. Initially, this can be seen in their government structures. Notably, kings were the original rulers in Greece, this was followed by an oligarchy form of government then a government based on democracy principles took over. Conversely, Rome was originally ruled by kings but followed by a mixed republican form of government and later dominated by emperors (Mac Kendrick, 33).
Additionally, the commerce activities of the Greek and Roman civilizations varied adversely. Greece’s economy basically relied on agriculture in form of wheat farming. They also engaged in the production of wine and olive oil (Mac Kendrick, 35). According to the Greek population, trading did not hold much value and they deemed it as a degrading activity. The Romans on the other hand did not participate directly in the growth of wheat but imported wheat in their city. Unlike the Greeks, the Romans had high regard for trade activities and engaged in trade as a basic economic activity. Similarly, there were notable differences in the military of the Greek and Roman civilizations. The difference was majorly in their fighting approach. The Greeks used the phalanx configuration in fighting and relied on the long spear as a major weapon (Mac Kendrick, 60). Conversely, the Romans utilized the cohort approach which was more flexible. They relied on the sword as their chief weapon (Mac Kendrick, 60).
Lastly, the Greek and Roman civilizations differed in their placement of women in their respective societies. In many parts of ancient Greece, women were not permitted to own land, exercise their voting rights or sign contracts (Mac Kendrick, 27). The women needed permission from their husbands or other males in society before engaging in most activities. In Rome on the other hand, women were freer to make their independent decisions. They also hard the rights to work own and inherit property (Mac Kendrick, 27).
Conclusion
The Greek civilization and the Roman civilizations remain two of the most popular civilizations of the ancient days .Both these civilizations had aspects related to them that could be regarded as similar and contrasting at the same time. Notably, these two civilizations had a similar geographical terrain, shared common philosophy and maintained some similarities in their governments, religion and philosophies. Greece and Rome however differed in their military structures, commercial activities and political sequence. There are admirable attributes still that can be learned from both the Roman and Greek culture especially from their societal structures and general philosophies.
Reference
MacKendrick, Paul L, and Herbert M. Howe. Classics in Translation. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1986. Print.
