Compare and Contrast Greek and Roman Culture

Name: Leah Esslinger

Date: 7/26/2013

Instructor’s Name: Dr. Kevin Scott

Assignment: HUMA215 Individual Project Unit 1

Title: Compare/Contrast Greek and Roman Cultures

Assignment: Part 1: Fill in the below table with both similarities and differences of the Greek and Roman cultures. Indicate if you are describing a similarity or a difference. If you are describing a similarity then place your research information under both the Greek and Roman culture. If you are describing a difference list the difference between the two cultures under each culture. Please fill in all 10 lines within the table, each row will expand as you type in your information.

| Similarity/Difference | Greek Culture | Roman Culture | 1 | Different | There is evidence of people settled in this area and trade taking place as far back as 7250 B.C.E | Rome founded in 771 BC by Remus and Romulus. | 2 | Different | Greek Language was known as Indo-European. | Roman Language was Vernaculan Latin (called Vulgan Latin. This included Italian, French, and Spanish. | 3 | Similar | In WWII Greece was invaded by Germany. Resistance fighters helped allies expel the Germans in 1944-1945. | Romans were also attacked by Germany in 1943 and 1944 during WWII. | 4 | Similar | Greek Literature originated with the LLad and the Odyssey composed by Homer in 700 BC. | Romans also used Greek language until the 3rd Century BC. It took almost 2 centuries to become a dominate literature of Ancient Rome. | 5 | Similar | Classical age in Greece made great discoveries in Science, Mathematics, and Medicine. | Romans made a huge impact into medicine and health although they were mainly concerned with public health. | 6 | Similar | In 1924 Greece became a republic. | Rome became a republic in 509 BC after their king Tarquin was overthrown. | 7 | Difference | Greeks founded Olympic games in 776 BC. | Romans replaced Olympic games with Gladiator contests and became violent and bloody games. | 8 | Similar | Greek religion or Hellenismos is the collection of beliefs and rituals practiced by ancient Greece. | The Romans were highly religious and received success in return kept good relations to their Gods. | 9 | Difference | •Arugula •Asparagus •Artichokes •Cabbage•Bulbs•Cardoons •Carrots •Cos lettuce (Romaine) •Cucumbers •Cress | The most basic items in Romans meals were barley, olive oil, and wine | 10 | Similar | | |

Part 2: For the following questions, provide your response in short-answer format (2-3 sentences each). Use this Unit activities and resources to assist you in answering the questions.

1) How did the Cycladic, Minoan, and Mycenaean cultures contribute to Greeks’ sense of themselves?

The Cycladic culture was found in most of the Cycladic islands. There they had a lack of fertile soil and settlements were small in size for survival. They also used fishing as an economic activity. The center of evolving also included trading. Mycenaean civilization took its name after the first site where culture was identified called Mycanae. This society was organized around the executive and judicial authority.

2) What is a polis and how did polies shape Greek culture?

A polis is a city-state in ancient Greece. Athens and Sparta are great examples of city-states that can be compared and contrasted greatly with each other. Each polis developed independently and, often, very differently from one another. Eventually, the polis became the structure by which people organized themselves.

3) What was imperial Rome?

The entire Roman Empire from the time of the first emperor, Caesar Augustus (Octavius), who came to rule in 27 B.C.E., to what many consider to be time of Constantine the Great, who became emperor in 306 C.E. & the Empire divided to begin the Byzantine era in the East; however, traditionally, the last (Western) Roman emperor is considered to be Romulus Augustus, who's reign ended with the official fall of Rome (Western Empire) in 476 C.E.

4) What values were retained from the Etruscans and Roman republic roots?

Romans overthrew their Etruscan conquerors in 509 B.C.E. Etruscans ruled over Romans for hundreds of years. Once they declared their freedom the romans established a republic. One of the innovations of the Roman Republic was the notion of equality under the law. In 449 B.C.E., government leaders carved some of Rome's most important laws into 12 great tablets. The Twelve Tables, as they came to be known, were the first Roman laws put in writing.

Reference

(n.d.) Greek History.
Retrieved from: http://www.hellenicfoundation.com/History.htm

(2013) A history of Ancient Rome.
Retrieved from: http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/a_history_of_ancient_rome.htm

(2003) Early Imperial Romans.
Retrieved from: http://www.fanaticus.org/DBA/armies/II56/

(2013) Ancient Civilizations.
Retrieved from: http://www.ushistory.org/civ/6a.asp