Premium Essay

Elements of Greek and Roman Cultures

In:

Submitted By Snowflake
Words 516
Pages 3
Elements of Greek and Roman Cultures
By
Agnes Lind The following chart compares and contrast distinguishing elements of early Greek and Roman cultures. The chart will also provide a couple examples of various features.

Elements Greek Culture Roman Culture
Government

Each little city-state had its own polis. They called this citadel an acropolis. It served many purposes. They debated issues of the laws and settle disputes.

Rome had Kings and was known as Roman Republic. They had soldiers and if you were high up in the military you could afford to be one of the horsemen.
Geographical Area

The main land is rugged mountains of country land that separates the small areas of farming land. Rome was actually built on seven hilly sites. The lower areas were swampy and could flood easily, while the higher areas were a little difficult for building.
Economy

Seeing how Greece was surrounded by mountains and sea, their economy was mainly into fishing, agriculture. They gathered their cash crops for exports.

Agriculture and trade was the main economic production for the Romans. It did have some small industrial production though. Most of the metals used in these productions were gold, silver and bronze.
Art Form

The art form was figurines from a small size to life-size made of marble. The toes were always pointed downward and arms folded across the chest. The head was tilted backwards.

The portrait bust was the most popular. The Romans showed more glorified and scale in their art work. They believed in showing off the finer things in life and they did this by making everything bigger and better than everyone else had.
Architecture

There are three different types of structural columns that the Greeks used in the buildings. They were the Doric, Ionic and

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Comparision of Greek and Roman Cultures

...COMPARISION OF GREEK AND ROMAN CULTURES Element Greece Rome Art The Greeks developed 3 design elements. These elements were Corinthian, Ionic, and Doric. They also used pottery as an important form of expression and storytelling. This showed different aspects of their culture throughout the ages. The Romans were fond of using statues, paintings, and mosaics in their culture. The inspiration for these forms of expression came from the Greeks. The statues were purposely designed to tell stories of their history and culture. The Greeks used small figures as well as life size statues among other materials to tell of their culture, especially their heroes and gods, important event events, and culture. Roman statues were significant in telling of the history of the culture. Government The main forms of government in ancient Greece were Tyranny, Monarchy, Oligarchy, and Democracy. Kings were the first rulers of Greece leading way to Democracy. The first rulers of Rome were kings however the Romans developed a government which allowed citizens to elect their own consuls (officials). After years of this the power of the consuls gave way to an emperor. Philosophy There were three main contributors to Greek philosophy, Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle. The basic philosophic thoughts were based on subjects including ethics, logics, and rhetoric. Romans were influenced by the philosophical writings of the Greeks. Lucretius, Cicero, and Seneca were some of the first Romans to write...

Words: 397 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Humanities

...distinguishing elements or features of early Greek and Roman cultures. It includes a table that illustrates significant examples of the various features. It also includes the elements of culture such as government, geographical terrain, economics and trade practices, art, architecture, philosophical and religious beliefs. Elements | Greek | Roman | Government and geographical terrain | Is a Mediterranean country. But Greek city states were separated by hilly country sides and water. “Greece communities began to organize themselves and exercise authority over their own limited geographical regions, which were defined by natural boundaries- mountains, rivers, and plains (Henry Sayre, 2013, pg 49)”. Greeks had many different types of governments. They all changed over time due to new beliefs or ideas. “Greece began by having monarchies, then oligarchies, then tyrannies and then democracies, but at each period there were plenty of city stated using a different system, and there were many which never did become democracies or tyrannies at all ( History for kids, 2012)”. That could because of a lot of things, distance from the other Greek city’s, population, production, etc. | Is a Mediterranean country. Rome was an inland country on the side of the Tiber river. It did not have much of a hilly geographical terrain. In Italy, around Naples, mt. Vesuvius produced fertile land by blanketing the soil with tephra which aged into rich soil (N.S. Gill, 2012). The romans didn’t really...

Words: 862 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Compare Contrast Greek and Roman Art and Architecture

...Compare/Contrast Greek and Roman Art and Architecture Since the onset of Greek and Roman civilizations centuries ago we have seen the art and architectural worlds evolve into what we know them as today. In fact, many of the ancient Greek styles were duplicated by the Romans and modified to suit their needs. We can still see a lot of Greek and Roman influences in the present day, especially in the architectural world. Below I will cite some examples of Greek and Roman pieces of art and a structure from each culture and detail some similarities as well as some contrasting values. I’d like to begin by comparing some pieces of art. In The Fallen Warrior (Greece) and The Dying Gaul (Roman copy) both clearly represent a tragic event. Both subjects are leaning on the ground and seem to be dying but the reality of the event is more evident in the Gaul sculpture. The wound is clearly visible and the anguish of the subject is captured in his poise. Conversely the subject of the Warrior piece looks rather content and shows no visible injury. Both works are roughly the same size and represent a relatively perfect human structure with attention to muscular detail as well as an idealization of the human body. However, the Warrior sculpture shows less optical fact and more stylization as far as the eyes, mouth and beard are concerned when compared to the almost true to nature elements of the Gaul piece. This shows how some of the Greek foundation was carried along but modified...

Words: 628 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Ancient Greek and Rome Culture

...Introduction to Humanities- Unit 1 Individual Project Deanna K. Wadley April 28, 2012 ABSTRACT This paper will develop a table to compare and contract both the ancient Greeks and Romans. It will include their culture, the type of governments they had, the level of trade, and economic conditions as well as the geographical areas they both thrived in. In addition the table will compare and contrast both civilizations art, architectural styles and accomplishments and their philosophical and religious beliefs. The table will also include visual representation to give readers a clearer picture of the past. Features of Greek and Roman Cultures Features | Ancient Greece | Roman Republic/Empire | | Timeline | 800 BCE – 500 BCE | 509 BCE - 27 BCE | | Government | * Made up of independent states called Polis, or city states. * Used sanctuaries to gather to share important cultural elements. * Citizens were land-owning males who had the right to vote and speak out in court (Sayre, 2010). | * Class structure composed of three tribes and consisted of two ranks; Patricians, and plebeians. * First form of representative government made up of a legislative and judicial branch * Developed elaborate code of law. (Sayre, 2010). | | Agriculture | * Farming * Animal husbandry * Beekeeping * Greeks had poor soil as they were located in rocky hills and mountains. Greece, 2001). | * Level plains for cultivation * Terraced farming on sloped * Built dams and reservoirs...

Words: 730 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Difference Between Greek and Roman Sculpture

...In Western culture the Greeks and Romans are citizens of the two most celebrated ancient cultures. “Classical art” was referred to the art of ancient Greek and Roman sculpture which the three primary areas of classical art are painting, architecture, and sculpture. The differences between Greek and Rome art are both interesting and significant for identification. Historically, the Greeks were the primary influences of the Romans in terms of artwork. The most obvious difference between Greek and Roman architecture is the material used. The Greeks used marble and the Romans used concrete. Greek sculptures are associated with white marble, Greek sculpture in the early classical period was often made in bronze during the high classical period. They were made from white marble and were often painted. Roman sculptors also used primarily white marble, though they did not paint their sculptures as Greeks did. Throughout the classical period Greek sculpture consisted primarily of depictions of Gods, mythological scenes and figures. These figures are often sculpted as "heroic nudes," in which the male figure is idealized. Although Roman sculpture, which features many copies of Greek sculptures, is also apprehensive with mythology. Romans often storied emperors and naturalistic examples of noble individuals. The Greeks not only had free-standing sculptures, but also sculpture worked into architecture. The panels primarily ran in horizontal strips above architectural columns...

Words: 361 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Virgil's Invocation In The Odyssey

...The Greeks' invocation of the muses is a classic element of epic poetry that the Romans later adopted within their own works. Homer and Virgil both make use of this technique in their epics. The contrast between Homer's quintessential invocation in the Iliad and the opening lines of the Aeneid reveal numerous differences between the two epics. There is clear reference to Homer's work in Virgil's first lines and both openings establish the theme of the epic. However, there are multitudes of elements within the Aeneid's opening that establish the epic as a clearly Roman work while maintaining its declaration as heir to the Greek tradition. Virgil's introduction in the Aeneid goes a step further than Homer's by not only establishing the theme,...

Words: 1685 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

Ancient and Rome Culture

...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...

Words: 694 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Cultural Studies

...06/05/2012 Elements of early Greek and Roman Cultures: Government | Compare•Kings originally ruled both Athens, Greece and Rome | Contrast• Rome eventually formed a mixed form of Republican government, followed by emperors• Greece eventually changed to oligarchy, and then to democracy | Geographical Terrain | Compare• Both are located in the Mediterranean | Contrast• Greece was separated by hilly countrysides located by water• Rome was inland without natural hilly borders | Economics | Compare• Both Rome and Greece economies were based upon agriculture• Both major producers of wine and olive oil• Both had forms of coinage | Contrast• Romans farmed, while Greeks thought that it was degrading• Greece had slaves, but Rome was dependent on slave trades | Trade Practices | Compare• Both exported wine and olive oil | Contrast• Romans imported wheat as a staple, while Greeks used wheat as a household food | Art | Compare• Both are very well-known featured in museums across the globe | Contrast• Greek art is considered superior to Roman art • Greek sculptors goal was to create ideal artistic form, whilst a Roman artist goal to produce realistic portraits meant for decorating | Architecture | Compare• Both have buildings and structures that are still standing today, proving excellent workmanship• Both cultures architectures can be seen in courthouses in America through columns | Contrast•Greeks had three styles of architecture: Doric, Iconic and Corinthian• Each Greek building...

Words: 455 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Creationmyths

...Cosmic Creation Myths Across Cultures Darrell Jones HUM/105 June 20, 2012 Mary Worley Cosmic Creation Myths across Cultures Myths vary a great deal from various cultures around the world. Although these myths differ, they all share one same common theme – a story based on creation. Myths from the Roman/Greek and Nordic cultures are no different. Both of these cultures believed in some form of creation that defined and shaped their world through cosmic occurrences or natural phenomenon, while sharing similarities and differences in the creators of the worlds and the steps these worlds were created. Roman/Greek gods lived in various worlds. This mythological world was born out of emptiness, or Chaos. The gods themselves lived on Mount Olympus. Uranus, Father Sky, ruled over all worlds with Gaea, Mother Earth, by his side. Tartarus ruled the deepest part of the underworld. Their son, Cronus, and their grandson, Zeus, both take turns ruling over the worlds after Uranus. Two of Uranus and Gaea’s other children were gods of other worldly elements: Helios, god of sun; and Selene, god of Moon. Cronus and Rhea produced the second generation of gods who ruled over other elements, including: Zeus, lord of the sky and god of thunder; Poseidon, lord of the seas; and Hades, ruler of the underworld and lord of the dead. Individuals who believed in Roman/Greek mythology believed these gods shaped their world and ruled over the elements. A titan named Atlas was condemned by Zeus to...

Words: 1309 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Humanities Unit 1ip

...Pearlie Byrd-Lain HUMA1205A-07 UNIT 1IP Abstract This is a summary that compares and contrast the different elements or features of early Greek and Roman cultures. This summary will also have some examples of various features. The reason for the study of the Greek and Roman culture is according to (Sayre (2013) has influenced the western cultures in the in state and history. The Laws, art, commerce, and politics of the western system writing can be traced back to the two civilizations. | Greek Civilization | Roman Civilization | Geography: | Located in Eastern Mediterranean Sea | Develops from the Italian peninsula and continues throughout the Mediterranean Sea and much of Europe and the Middle East | Religion: | (Greek Pantheon)Polytheistic | Later ChristianPolytheistic (Roman Pantheon | Economics/Trade: | Depends on International trade Uses one system of currencyHave a slave society | Depends of International tradeHave slave societyMany types of CurrencyMany roads | Government: | Many different types of government throughout time1). Athens (First Democracy)2). (Sparta) Monarchy3). (Corinth, Athens, Sicyon) Tyranny | Had two forms of Government1). The Republic2). The Roman Empire | Architecture: | Temple Architecture Ionic Corinthian, Doric | Arches, Concrete & Domes | Educations | Private teachersFormal and Informal | Only the rich families went to schoolPoor still learned to read and write but not in schools | Gender issues | Men only...

Words: 262 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Greek and Roman Cultures the Contrasts and Comparisons

...Greek and Roman Cultures the Contrasts and Comparisons Kasaundra Ottinger AIU Online- HUMA215 July 20, 2011 Elements of Culture | Greek Culture | Similarities/Differences | Roman Culture | Geography | Greeks would not permit the building of an empire. The city-states were isolated by the hill sides and were united by force from the Romans. They were more sophisticated and more advanced then the Romans. | Both are Mediterranean countries that started out as city-states. Greek city-states were separated by hilly country sides and all near water.Rome was inland and there were no hill sides to separate and no boarders (Gills, 2011). The East is bordered by mountains and the West is bordered by the sea. | Romans had an Empire that was due to the response of threats against them. The army that was formed would be the cause of the uprising of the empire and in the end its downfall. | Government | Monarchies (Kings)Oligarchies (Aristocrats)Tyrannies (one Aristocrat with power over the other Aristocrats)Democracies (Gave power to the poor people) (Carr, 2011). | Originally both countries were ruled by kings (Monarchies). In Greek civilization their government evolved into what we know today as a democracy (Gills, 2011). | Monarchy (King) Consuls (2 Men rule) Senators (Advisors to the Consuls) Prefects (Run the city) Tribunes (Speak for the poor) Assembly (All men grown, free and of Roman citizenship who vote on issues and elect the Consuls, Prefects and Senators) (Carr, 2011)...

Words: 902 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Introduction to Humanities

...Unit 1 IP Introduction to Humanities By Amber Brooker Abstract In this essay, I created a chart to compare and contrast elements of early Greek and Roman cultures. Greek/Roman Comparing Chart Category | Greek | Roman | Art | Greek Temple Architecture was an important form of art in Early Greece. The Greeks developed three architectural systems called Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian. Each one was distinctive in its style and design. Greek Pottery was another important form of art in Early Greece. The paintings on the pottery found from early Greece has survived for centuries and these pieces give a glimpse into the culture and lives of Early Greece. Sculptures were important too, they consisted of small figurines and life-size statutes. Sculptures were created using marble, limestone, stone, and other materials. The sculptures created told stories of Heroes, Gods, Mythical Creatures, Important Events, and the culture of Greece | Roman Statues were developed from copying the art from the Greeks. Statues were made of gods and important leaders. Their statues showed a great sense of skill and originality. Roman sculptures were designed for the purpose of telling the significant history of the culture.  Besides the sculptures, statues, and paintings in Rome, Mosaics were also popular. Mosaics were made with geometric shapes of stone and placed in different shapes to create the desired look. | Geography | Greece is a peninsula that is composed of even smaller peninsulas...

Words: 775 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Roman and Greek Differences

...American intercontinental university | Compare and Contrast | The comparison and contrasting of Greek and Roman Cultures | | Misty Thornton | 11/11/2012 | The comparing and contrasting that distinguish elements or features of early Greek and Roman cultures, including illustrative or significant examples of the various features. | Contrast | GREEKS | ROMANS | ART | Had sculptures that consisted of small figurines and life-size statues. Showed the beauty of the human form in nudes and combined realism and idealism. | Had sculptures and statues. Mosaics were popular because they were created a desired look. | | Sculptures created told stories of heroes, Gods, mythical creatures, important events and the culture of Greece. | Sculptures designed for the purpose of telling the significant history of the culture. | | Pottery was another form of important art. Architecture typically more rectilinear and of post and lintel construction. | Created paintings. Buildings they mastered were ones that had arches and domes. Made concrete better. | GEOGRAPHY | Greece land is covered with many mountains. It is a peninsula composing of even smaller peninsulas on its land. | Rome was located near the Mediterranean Sea and the volcanic mountains. The land is composed of large hills made of tufa rocks. | RELIGION | Built temples. Temples were ornate on the outside and plain on the inside. Worshiped many Gods like Zeus, Hera, and Apollo. | Temples built were...

Words: 487 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Comparing Gods and Goddesses

...superior culture system of patriarchy (Leonard & McClure, 2004, p. 104). Although myths may differ from culture to culture, common elements and roles exist in each myth. In today’s society, myths and legends are fantasy-filled tales from ancient societies long gone. Therefore, Team A will describe the elements and functions of goddess myths, and compare two myths of the female divine from different cultures. Second, the team will describe the elements and functions of god myths, and compare two myths of the male divine from different cultures. Last, the team will summarize the elements and functions shared by both divines. According to the euhemerist Gimbutus, goddesses have three basic roles life, death, and regeneration (Leonard & McClure, 2004, p. 114). The goddesses of life are Mother Earth, nature, sea, and universe. These goddesses are nurturers and overseers of security and contentment, prosperity and growth, and creativity and artistry. The mother earth goddesses are creators of earth and universe, such as Gaia of the ancient Greeks, and Tellus of the Romans. These two Earth goddesses gave birth to the sky, mountains, sea, moon, and stars. Some goddesses of life protect the institutions of family and marriage, such as Greek Hera (marriage) and Hestia (hearth), whereas other goddesses of life exemplify law and order to human civilization, such as Greek Horae- Eunomia (law and order), Dike (justice), and Eirene (peace). The Goddesses of Life carries the elements of nurturing...

Words: 1828 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Socates V. Perpetua

...The Death of Socrates vs. The Death of Perpetua Civil disobedience has been a common element in human behavior. From the time of antiquity to the present, people lash out in various ways against standards that society has placed upon citizens. Two ancient examples of disobedient actions come from different ages revered for standards that hold today and provide a basis for modern law; the Greek and ancient Roman empires. From the Greeks, we have come to know the story of Socrates as memorialized by Plato, and the Roman age was the time of Perpetua, an early Christian woman. The fate of those individuals is the same – a death sentence handed down by the society they lived in. Although the conclusion of their respective lives is the same, the differences that lie in the reasoning of their death run deeper, with several key factors impacting their individual destiny. As we will see, these factors affect their relationship to the states and time periods they existed. Understanding the differences between Socrates and Perpetua rests in two major elements. The first one is the role of religion and understanding of deities. Their respective beliefs affected their relationship with the state that decided their deaths. Beginning with Socrates, we must first remember that Greek society was polytheistic. Standards such as monotheism in Catholic terms did not exist. There were Gods that ruled over emotions, the land, sea, and even realms outside of human reach, such as Zeus in heaven and...

Words: 1787 - Pages: 8