Roman And Greek Influence On Western Civilization

Compare the impacts of Rome and Greece on western civilization.

Rome and Greece were very similar to one another in many ways. Rome copied methods the Greeks used and incorporated them into their culture. For example, the Greek gods and roman gods are similar but still different. Western civilizations also incorporated ideas into their culture. For example architecture, democracy (government), and academics like science, math, and linguistics.

The architecture was also a big benefactor in western civilizations. roman architecture and Greek architecture are very similar except that the Romans developed a different style of their own. In Washington DC we can see examples of how the roman and Greeks influence changed our architecture. For example the Lincoln memorial. the Jefferson memorial, and the capital building. Did you know that even our modern day sports arenas have been influenced? Our sports arenas are very similar in style to the Colosseum in Rome. As you can see western civilizations like the Romans and Greeks style and decided to use

it in their own buildings. Without this influence, our buildings would not look the same.

We have also incorporated the style of government called democracy where the power is with the people.

The Greeks and Romans were known as the birthplace of democracy. The Romans came up with laws that western civilizations adopted. the Romans also came up with the idea of common law which many western civilizations legal systems are based upon. They also developed the idea of civil law which most of the world uses today. Rome was originally ruled by a monarch, but when that changed they became a representative democracy. The representive system is where citizens vote for representatives rather than participating directly. The Greeks were a direct democracy which meant that every male citizen had the right to vote in the law. the Greeks also invented the policies and principals that we still us today, for example, checks and balances. that means that our government has three branches legislative, executive, and

judicial.

Education was also influenced by Rome and Greece. The Greeks felt that through education you were able to gain personal excellency. Many philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Hippocrates had an effect on western civilizations because of their beliefs and observations. Socrates idea of having an immortal soul influenced many religions in western civilizations. he claimed everyone was born with a soul and it left once a person died. Plato's work with the republic was also a big influence on western culture. In it, it explains how a person should live or the best way to live, it also says how the people should be governed. many of his ideas influenced the founding fathers of the united states of America. Hippocrates was also an influence. he was considered the founding father of western medicine. as you can see all these men and their work help shape western civilization.