Similarities Between Rome And Indian Civilization

Many key economic and social characteristics either positively or negatively impacted Roman and Indian civilizations. The Roman civilization and Indian civilization were primarily different with some important similarities. They differed in that slavery in Rome was vital to the economy while India’s caste system did not address economic welfare. Additionally, slaves in Rome had a chance to gain freedom while members of the caste system in India could not move up the caste system. However, one similarity is that both civilizations treated slaves and people in lower castes unequally.

A vital part of the economy was slavery in Rome, whereas India’s caste system didn’t impact the economy significantly. In Rome, farms and plantations were where slaves had the greatest effect on financial resources. Also, a large amount of slaves was a symbol of excessive power and wealth. Additionally, throughout Italy, farms owned initially by little family businesses were quickly bought out and substituted with big plantations, possessed by aristocratic elites, run by slaves. In turn, this led to considerable increases in the economy. Most of Rome’s economy was dependent on slave trade and slave service in production. However, India’s

caste system didn’t influence the economy because it wasn’t built for the sake of financial welfare. It was solely created to strictly organize the people. The greater effect of slavery in Rome on economy is due to the fact that the Roman Empire is defined as a slave society, in which Rome revolves around slaves. On the other hand, the Indian caste system is just a way of organizing society, so it has no impact on economy.

Another difference is that freedom was a possibility for slaves in Rome, but members of the lower castes in India could not move up the caste system. Slaves living in Rome could gain freedom through either buying their way out by saving their small earnings for a long time or through their master’s kindness after dependable service from the slaves. After being freed, they could work in an extensive range of careers. Whereas, people of the lower classes in India were not allowed to improve their standings in society. They were born into their caste and remained in their caste until they died. Untouchables, which were the lowest class, also were typically given dirty jobs like cleaning toilets and removing garbage. Reincarnation was there only hope, most of the times. The chance of freedom for slaves in Rome was most likely because the masters wanted a way to encourage slaves to be diligent and obedient. The reason behind the immobility in the caste system of India was due to the major belief that people were born/put into each caste based on their karma from their previous birth, so they had to remain in that caste.

Both slavery in Rome and the caste system in India are similar because they consist of inequality.

Some slaves in Rome were treated very maliciously by their owners. They were often beaten and masters could even kill them for any reason whatsoever without getting in trouble. Similarly, in India, untouchables were not allowed to enter schools, place of worship, or even wells where higher castes drank water from. Just the sight of untouchables was viewed as impurity in certain areas of India. The poor untouchables were also made to work in the nighttime and sleep in the daytime. The reason for inequality is because both societies looked upon slaves and low caste members as different and undeserving, so they placed restrictions for them as a

consequence.

To sum it up, they were different Indian and Rome civilization because slavery in Rome was vital to the economy whereas India’s caste system did not address financial prosperity. Also, slaves in Rome had a chance to gain freedom while members of the caste system in India could not move up the caste system. And, one similarity is that both civilizations treated slaves and people in lower castes unequally. Lastly, although Roman and Indian civilization had many ups and downs, they were mostly successful empires.