Joya Jacks

HIS 120.31 #2111

Tuesdays 2:30-3:45
05/01/12
Its All Greek to Me, Or Is It?

Between 800 B.C.E and 14 C.E. Greek and Roman civilization were innovative and
established themselves as forces to be reckoned with. They promoted religious practices that
movies, even today are based on, and gave the world conquerors whose legacies are now
immortal. Although Greece and Rome have similar humble beginnings that grew into empires,
they are also dissimilar in many ways of life from citizenship to political affairs.
Ancient Greek Minoan society is well known for its establishment on the island of Crete
during the third century B.C.E, under king Minos. Once underway, Greece began to flourish
after the 1400s B.C.E when Crete had established its self as a sophisticated civilization with
luxurious buildings and indoor plumbing (191). Capable of interacting and doing business with
many other societies due to the location, by 1600 B.C.E. Greece began to trade with the
migratory Indo-European peoples and established writing (191).
Similarly, during the middle of the seventh century B.C.E., the Etruscans of Rome under
the rule of king, established economic and political alliance between settlements and
manufactured high quality iron and bronze (212). In the fifth century Roman society found itself
wanting to grow and become something greater than the king and monarchy had in mind. With
the birth of the Roman Republic, Roman cities grew with a civic center, temples, and public
buildings (213).

An area of great contrast between Greek and Roman civilizations is in the realm of
politics. By the sixth century, Greece maintained two very different societies; Spartan and
Athenian. In Sparta, all citizens were considered equals and lavish lifestyles were discouraged.
Distinction among ancient Spartans came by prowess, discipline, and military talent, opposed to
wealth, or social status (193). Servants, or helots, of Sparta were not considered citizens and
outnumbered Spartans ten to one. Due to being outnumbered, Spartans developed a fierce
military to keep the helots in check. This society stood on the foundation of military discipline
and its institutions both reflected and reinforced the larger societys commitment to military
values (193).
During the 500s B.C.E. Rome had two basic classes of people: the plebeians who were
commoners or working class, and the patricians. Political dealings were directed by the states
constitution which gave executive responsibilities to consuls which consisted of patricians who
were determined by birth right, and the Senate. The Senates members were patricians with
extensive political experience, advised the consuls, and ratified all major decisions (213). This
division and unequal representation between patricians and plebeians led to heavy contention
between the classes. By the mid fifth century, to avoid plebeians from seceding from Rome,
patricians granted plebeians the right to elect officials who represented their interests in the
Roman government (213). Although plebeians were had elected officials, patricians still held
most of the power in Rome. It was not until the 300s that plebeian assemblies won the power to
make decisions binding on all of Rome (214).
A significant area in which both Greece and Rome share a common history is in the area
of early religious practices. Both societies began as polytheistic, worshiping various gods who
provided for their followers, and controlled their day to day lives. In Greece they recognized

heavenly deities that gave rise to the well-known Greek gods such as Zeus king of the gods, and
his queen Hera. Similarly, the Romans believed in many gods and goddess based on Greek
philosophy (225). However, these gods were recognized by different names. Jupiter was the
king of the gods, and Juno his queen. As each of the societies grew, so did their religions and
philosophies. In both Greece and Rome, belief in a single god who would come to the world as a
savior, gained in popularity as the people looked to make sense of their ever changing worlds.
Like so many other societies before them that shared geographic location and ancestry,
Greece and Rome have similar histories, traditions that have outlived their creators and legacies
that have influenced cultures worldwide. Whether one was taught about gods, philosophers,
Alexander the Great, or Catholicism, one must agree that its not all Greek some of it, is Roman.

Works Cited
Bentley, J.H. & Ziegler, H.F. (2000-2011). Traditions & Encounters: A global perspective on the
past: Vol. I From the beginning to 1500. 5th edition (pp. 191-225). New York, New York:
McGraw-Hill.