The Legacy of Greek and Roman Governments

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The governments of ancient Greece and Rome had many similarities and differences, creating two unique cultures. There were several things that set them apart, and it changed the way each civilization grew and developed. For example, Greece’s social classes were divided into slaves, women and citizens, while Rome had slaves, plebeians and patricians. In ancient Rome, plebeians were the commoners in Rome, such as farmers, and patricians were aristocrats or noblemen. Furthermore, women were treated as citizens in Rome, but more like property in Greece (“Ancient Greece vs. Ancient Rome,” para. 5). In Athens, women were controlled by the men in their lives by having their father control them before marriage, and their husbands after. Another difference between the two countries was how their governments originally began. Greece was originally made up of several city-states, each being an independant nation. Rome, on the other hand, was originally a monarchy. Over time, it eventually became a Republic, in which power is held by the people and their elected representatives. The similarities between the government of Greece and Rome included their beliefs in several gods. Athens was known for worshiping the goddess Athena, their city-god. Rome worshiped several other gods as well, including Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades. Another similarity was their fierce militaries. Greece was known for having lots of internal warfare, but they succeeded in preventing any military invasions, especially from Persia. Rome is known for having as the most powerful and successful military in the Western region. Their size, strength, and organization helped them to achieve many accomplishments in the expansion of their empire. The governments in... ... middle of paper ... ...United States, creating the government we have today. Works Cited Archibald, Zofia. Discovering the World of the Ancient Greeks. New York: Facts On File, 1991. Print. "Explaining the Rise and Dominance of Rome." Wordology.com. Worldology, LLC, 2009. Web. 16 Jan. 2014. Gill, N. S. "7 Points to Know About Ancient Greek Government." About.com Ancient / Classical History. N.p., 2014. Web. 14 Jan. 2014. Gill, N. S. "Comparisons Between Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome." About.com Ancient / Classical History. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2014. Mellor, Ronald, and Marni McGee. The Ancient Roman World. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2004. Print. Prabhat. "Difference Between Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome." DifferenceBetween.net. N.p., June-July 2011. Web. 16 Jan. 2014. "Sources of Ideas That Shaped the American Plan of Government." Www.dsusd.k12.ca.us/. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2014.

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