Comparisons Between the Ancient Greeks and Romans

The Ancient Greeks and Romans both began their histories as city-states. While the irregular
coastline and the mountainous terrain of the Greek peninsula isolated the various Greek city-
states from one another, the city of Rome was located in the geographical middle of a generally
north-south plain bordered on the east with mountains and on the west by the sea. Therefore,
Rome was exposed to the migrations and invasions of people from the Po River in the north and
Sicily in the south.
The two primary ethnic and cultural influences upon the Romans were determined to a degree by
this geography. That is, the first influence was that of the Etruscans in the north, and the second
major influence was that of the Greeks in the south. By the time the city-state of Rome had
emerged as a distinct entity out of its Etruscan origins and was prepared to expand its own
unique influence, Greek civilization had spread throughout the Mediterranean basin. However,
the fierce exclusiveness of the Greek city-states from one another, stemming from their
geographical isolation, had determined that Greek colonization of the Mediterranean would be an
extension of isolated city-states. The Greek polis did not permit the building of a Greek empire,
and the strict barriers to the extension of citizenship prevented any one city-state from becoming
dominant. As we have seen from Greek history, the Athenians were on the way to creating an
empire through their domination of the Delian League, but this trend was reversed in the
Pelopponesian Wars.
The Romans, on the other hand, brought other communities on the Italian peninsula under their
control, first by conquest, and then by extending Roman citizenship to elements of the conquered
peoples. Over time, in the crucible of fierce, unremitting conflict during the Punic Wars, the
people of the Italian peninsula came to identify themselves as Romans. There are, therefore, two
key components in the success of the Romans in building an empire. One surely was their
military prowess, and the other was their organizational/political/legal skill in extending their
governance over the conquered peoples into the empire.
The Romans did not intend to create an empire, but they responded to threats from their
neighbors, first on the Italian peninsula, then from Carthage in the western Mediterranean, then
from Macedonia in the east, and so on. As each adversary was defeated, the Romans found
themselves drawn-in to keep the peace ( that is, to maintain their control) among the conquered
peoples. This process led to the creation of armies made up of large numbers of Romans who
were separated permanently from the land, became professional soldiers, and had to be supported
by the state. The army and its generals became so powerful that they eventually posed a threat to
the political institutions of the Roman Republic. In other words, the conquest of Rome's
enemies, destroyed the Republic and led to the creation of an imperial government. From the
very beginning of the history of Rome, the very force which created the empire, that is, the army
and its generals, would also be the cause for its downfall. The Roman Empire would last for
many centuries, however, and the foundations of its endurance rested upon the extension of the
Roman sense of identity to conquered peoples; that is, to "barbarians". Also important were
Roman law, and political skills exercised in the Senate and by some of the more outstanding
emperors.
The Greek city-states had to be united by force, first through the invasion of the Macedonians,
and then by the Romans. But the Greeks would, in a sense, have the last laugh. Their culture was
more sophisticated, their learning and philosophy more advanced, and Roman culture would be
overwhelmed as the Romans absorbed the cultural influences of the Hellenistic east. In the final
outcome, as the Roman Empire declined in the west, Roman emperors transferred their capitol
from Italy to Asia Minor. Long after the Roman empire was gone, the Byzantine Empire, an
amalgam of Roman and Greek culture, centered in the city of Constantinople, would endure. The
Greeks had conquered their conquerors.
Romans vs Greeks
While Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome are often confused for one another, there are many
differences between the two. Both countries are Mediterranean yet have social class
differences, different mythology and valued life differently. Ancient Greece thrived in the 5th
century B.C., while Rome did not thrive for hundreds of years later. It is believed that much of
what Rome used in everyday life was adopted from the ancient Greek civilization, however with
minor alterations.
Socially, both the Greek and Roman societies believed in a hierarchy. Greece divided their
social systems into five categories: slaves, freedmen, metics, citizens and women. In the
Grecian civilization, women were not given a position, they were considered to be less than
slaves. Romes society was divided into four different categories: freedmen, slaves, plebeians,
and patricians. In the Roman society, women were not treated as lesser individuals, as they
were in Greece. Rather women were considered citizens, if they were not born into slavery,
however they were not able to hold political offices or vote.
The Greeks and the Romans are also historically remembered for their contributions to todays
building architecture. The Greeks were responsible for incorporating three different
architecture styles: Corinthian, Doric and Ionic. Greek architecture inspired the Romans, who
in turn adopted Grecian style however they incorporated arches and aqueducts in their buildings.
Another architectural notation is that the Greeks chose to use statuesque figures honoring the
human form, while Romans seemed to focus more on the actual building design and technique.
The Greeks used materials like plaster, wood, marble and metals to create their architecture.
While the Romans used some of the same materials, they were also responsible for the
incorporation of concrete as a new building material, something the Greeks never had.
Both Greece and Rome are probably most famous for the mythological stories, which developed
from both civilizations. However, it is believed that the stories from the Greek culture, were
adopted by the Romans with minor changes to names and certain situations. An example is the
famous manuscript The Iliad, produced by the Greeks. Similarly nearly 700 years later, the
Romans produced a similar manuscript, The Aeneid. Often, at times, what created mythological
differences between the two, are the values of the people and their outlook on life. Greeks
focused on their behavior on the now, never planning on life after death. Romans believed that
if they were ideal and model citizens they could become Gods in the afterlife.
Summary:
1. Much of what Rome incorporated into their civilization, was adopted from the Ancient Greek
civilization.
2. Grecian women were not considered valuable to society. Both Greece and Rome were
centered around a social hierarchy.
3. The Greeks created three different types of architecture. Rome incorporated the arch into
their architectural styles and also were credited with the usage of concrete as a building material.
4. Mythology stories from both civilizations are similar, even though Greeks focused on their
lives, were as Romans focus on the afterlife.

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Ancient Greece vs Ancient Rome
When comparing ancient Greece and ancient Rome, one can see that there are many difference
including geography, governance, position of women, economy and art.
Though these countries are Mediterranean countries, they differ in their terrain. The cities in
Ancient Greece were separated by hilly countryside. All the cities were near to water bodies.
Rome was an inland country and situated on the banks of River Tiber.
Now talking of art and culture of Greece and Rome, Greek art was considered to be superior to
that of Roman Art. One of the sculptors that Greece is widely associated with is Venus de Milo.
Romans were good at mosaic or wall painting. The Romans were known for producing realistic
portraits.
In terms of economy, the basis of both ancient Greece and ancient Rome was agriculture. Greeks
lived on small wheat producing farms but had poor days because of improper agriculture
practises. Romans had turned towards estates, producing olive oil and wine.
There was also a big difference in the division of social classes of both ancient Greece and
ancient Rome. In Greece, the society was divided into slaves, freedmen, metics, citizens and
women. Rome had slaves, freedmen, plebeians and patricians.
When women were not considered to be citizens in ancient Greece, they were citizens in ancient
Rome. There was also division as per the wealth in both the societies.
The family head in the Roman household was the Paterfamilias. This means that even if a son
has his own family, his father will be the head of the entire family. But in Greece, the sons were
considered to be the legal heir to their fathers.
Summary
1. The cities in Ancient Greece were separated by hilly countryside. All the cities were near to
water bodies. Rome was an inland country and situated on the banks of River Tiber.
2. Greek art was considered to be superior to that of Roman Art.
3. Greeks lived on small wheat producing farms but had poor days because of improper agriculture
practises. Romans had turned towards estates, producing olive oil and wine.
4. In Greece, the society was divided into slaves, freedmen, metics, citizens and women. Rome had
slaves, freedmen, plebeians and patricians.
5. When women were not considered to be citizens in ancient Greece, they were citizens in
ancient Rome.
6. The family head in the Roman household was the Paterfamilias. But in Greece, the sons were
considered to be the legal heir to their fathers.

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