FREE ESSAY ON GREEK CIV VS THE REST

GREEK CIV VS THE REST

Greek Civ versus Roman Civ
Today's society in which we live in has based itself on the past achievements and
failures of previous civilizations which rose and fell with the hands of time. Every one
of those civilizations made certain contributions to history as well as developing human
intellectuality in order to enhance its chances of becoming the supreme ruler of our
planet's resources. If we look back in history right now we can say that every single
mishap, disaster, breakthrough, war, or even a conversation has led to the advancement of
our modern day society. 
There are many civilizations that have made major contributions to the structure of our
modern society. From Babylon's Hammurabi and his laws, to the extremely scientifical
Egyptians, and the brilliant warlike Persians. Yet they all seem not as significant as
the two most remembered ancient civilizations being the Greeks and the Romans. Both of
these conquered large areas in order to enhance their trade routes and in the process
conquering most of the known world. Ideas had been brought forward during the times of
these two which are quite similarly very much incorporated into the way in which we live
our everyday lives in our modern era. 
Since Rome was the biggest empire ever in history, lasting for the longest time, it has
always been claimed to be the greatest contributor to humanities civil advancements. Rome
has been credited for being the world's first free-market empire. It also was the first
empire to practice diplomacy through offering countries its "Pax Romana" (protection as
long as the country pays taxes to Rome). (Internet1) 
Rome's generals and rulers were amongst histories most successful both in its imperial
time as well its republican era. Amongst Rome's biggest and most astonishing aspects was
the incredibly high standard of living in which it maintained. Hot water piping,
beautiful architecture and excellent highways were amongst its many wonders.
Architectural wonders such as the circus Maximus are still available to be seen today.
The Roman's were also great literalists, who ruled supreme in the art of rhetoric. Great
poets, philosophers and political analysts such as Cicero added their weight to the
importance of the Roman era.
Yet all most of the above contributions have had a base before Rome and all Rome did was
improve on Hellenised ideas. (Kagan)
Hellenisation was the spread of Greek ideas incorporated into the daily lives of people
under either the rule of the Greeks or influenced by them. Even though Greece was ruling
supreme at least five hundred years before Rome had even an identity, their philosophy,
military strategies, politics as well as literature is still very much incorporated into
practically every advanced civilization since their time; ours very much included. 
The classical age of Greece was a period of unparalleled achievement. It carried forward
the tradition of rational, secular speculation in natural philosophy and science, but
turned its attention more to human questions in medicine and ethical and political
philosophy. While the rest of the world continued to be characterized by monarchial,
hierarchical, command societies, in Athens democracy was carried as far as it would go
before modern times. Democracy disappeared with the end of Greek autonomy in the late
fourth century B.C. When it returned in the modern world more than two millennia later,
it was broader but shallower. (Internet2)
It was in this democratic system that the greatest artistic, literary and philosophical
achievements took place. A naturalistic form of art took place evolved that placed human
beings as they might ideally look like. This approach in art was passed down to the
Romans and disappeared to emerge strongly in the renaissance era. (Ozment)
The conquests of Alexander and the Hellenistic civilization that came with them greatly
affected the previously conquered societies and their neighbors. The Seleucid successors
of Alexander ruled some parts of the Old Persian Empire for almost two centuries after
his death, and Hellenistic culture continued to influence the urban upper classes for
some time. (Kagan)
All these developments have led to the development of the next great empire, Rome. The
hoplite Phalanx, the Greeks fighting strategy was adopted and later improved by the
Romans, to form the most invincible army of their time. These developments diverge
sharply from the experience of previous cultures and of contemporary ones in the rest of
the world. To a degree they sprang from the unique political experience of the Greek,
which avoided Monarchies and great-extended land empires but was based on independent
city-states. That unique experience came to an end with the Macedonian conquest, which
made the Greeks subject to or part of some great national state or empire and brought an
end to the classical period. (Ozment)
The Hellenistic Influence reached even further under another group of Greeks who broke
away from the Seleucids to form the indo-Greeks people of Bachtria. BY the second century
B.C, they controlled, they controlled parts of northern India. The legacy of Hellenism in
the east is reflected in art as far away as China. In the west, of course, the legacy was
more complete and influential; powerfully shaping the nature of the Roman culture that
would ultimately dominate the entire Mediterranean and more, making important contacts
beyond it. (Internet2)
In republican Rome, to be considered an educated individual the person would have to be
able to speak Greek, or at least have a servant well versed in Greek philosophy. Young
Roman nobles studied Greek Rhetoric, literature and sometimes philosophy. These studies
had effect even on education and the Latin language. In the third century B.C a Greek
slave, Livius Androncius, translated the Odyssey into Latin, which became an incredible
success. (Williams) 
Roman religion was very much influenced by the Greeks. The Romans identified their own
Gods with the Greek equivalents and incorporated, Greek mythology into their own, until
they formed their own. (Kagan)
All the above points have been made to show the incredible amount of cultural and
societal influence the Greeks had over the Romans, and if we hypothesize that Rome made
the greatest contribution to our modern era, and then the Greeks would be contributors to
Rome. It is true Rome made incredible changes and developments to Greek ideas,
Philosophies, politics, warfare, art and other contributions, but Greek civilization
formed the foundation for Rome. Rome was built solid rock of Greek contributions, for we
can say that without the Greeks the Roman civilization would never form. (Williams)
We can conclude that the significance of the Greek era was the most important
civilization of our time. Through them we incorporated knowledge and rationality into our
society. Without the Greeks the west would never have gone through the renaissance,
reformation and the scientific revolution and they would still be concentrating on living
our lives on salvation in the next lives. Through Greek civilization we have managed to
learn after so many years to concentrate on our selves and human development. Humanism
was the creation of both Roman and Greek civilizations, and if it wasn't for that very
word (humanism) we would still be living within medieval standards. 
Bibliography
Bibliography:
1) Internet1, WWW. Pstprst/hist/rme/33/edu.html.com, M. Lazridis, 18/7/00
2) Internet2, WWW. Ucla/humansocial/histrme/1.edu.html.com, UCLA free education, 18/7/00
3) S. Ozment, D. Kagan, W. Graham, A. Craig, The Heritage Of world Civilization 3rd
edition, pages, 87-141, Macmillan college Publishing Company, New York, 1994
4) N. Williams, P. Fisher, Past into Present 3, pages 114-151, Collins College History,
1995
5) D. Kagan, Greek science after Aristotle (1977)