Introduction to Humanities - Elements of Culture Greek Culture Similarities and Differences Roman Culture

Abstract

Included in this paper is a table that compares many aspects of the Greek and Roman cultures. Many significant features of the times will be displayed side by side to show the differences as well as the similarities of each aspect of their cultures. Things such as the geography, governments, economics, trade, art, religion and philosophies of the time will be compared.

Introduction to Humanities

Elements of Culture Greek Culture Similarities/Differences Roman Culture

Geography The Greek area goes past the Greek Peloponnese, islands of Aegean Sea. It also goes around the Mediterranean and into the peninsula of Italy and the Asia Minor mainland (Sayre, 2010). Both of these cultures revolve around the Mediterranean countries. They experience the same climate and share a portion of Asia Minor and peninsular Italy. The Roman area includes hills on the east side of the Tiber, west of Apennine Mountains. The Apennine Mountains are the backbone of peninsular Italy. It is also close to the Tyrrhenian Sea (Geography of Rome, n.d.).

Government The Greeks were ruled by Kings, oligarch, and then by democracy. They were at one point ruled by Peisistratus, who was a dictator and a tyrant. He was very controlling. He was known for ruling without any mercy. The people were not consulted about any issues (Sayre, 2010). Even though the Greeks were ruled by a dictator every member of the population had a job (Sayre, 2010). Both the Romans and the Greeks considered everyone to be equal before the law when settling disputes that were private (AIU, 2011). Rome was different in that they invented civil laws. Romans have been governed by Kings before anything else. A Republic form took over before an Emperor ruled the Roman's (Sayre, 2010)

Society (Social Classes) There were many social classes in Greek culture. These included the Metics, citizens, freedmen, women and slaves. Both cultures had slaves and freedmen. The Romans had the plebeians and patricians which the Greeks did not. Roman culture consisted of freedmen, slaves, plebeians, and patricians.

Economies The economy was based on the agriculture of many farmers and manufacturing of products. Farmers were known to grow olives and grapes for sale or trade, while artists and craft workers sold or traded their works for needed items (Sayre, 2010). Both cultures relied on agriculture of some sort to survive. Romans set themselves apart by using the bartering system that the Greeks did not use. The Roman culture used a bartering system to support their colonies/societies. Sheep farmers and shepherds would exchange their sheep for cattle and salt (Ancient Roman Currency and Economy, n.d.).

Trade The Greeks imported items such as precious metals, tin and grain to be used for production of products (AIU, 2011). The biggest