University of M’hamed Bouguera

Faculty of Letters and Languages

English Department

April, 2021

Module: Civilization

Responsible of the Module: Mrs Diabi

Early Greek and Roman Civilizations and Cultures

Element Greek Roman

Geography Ancient Greek started as city Early Rome was situated in a plain. On the west,
states (poleis) at around 800 BCE. ancient Rome was bordered by the sea and
The geography was characterized mountain on the east. The city of Rome was prone
by mountainous terrain and to invasions and migrations from Sicily and Po
irregular coastline. The city states River (Selincourt, Ogilvie & Oakley, 2002). This
were along the coastline and were threat motivated early Rome to expand to the
separated from one another by legendary Roman empire.
hilly landscape.
The poleis included Athens,
Thebes, Delphi, Sicyon, Olympia,
Argos, Corinth, and Mycenae
(Burckhardt, 2002). Greek’s
colonization of the Mediterranean
region was in the form of
extension of the isolated city
states.
Art Early Greek had magnificent Early Roman art were mainly imitative. Roman
works of art. Ancient Greek art artists aimed mainly at producing realistic portraits
included architecture, sculpture, chiefly for decoration (Green, 1996). The Romans
literature, music, and drama. Most considered their business as that of managing
of the works of art in ancient governments rather than of producing works of art.
Greek were original (Goldhill & The art most associated with ancient Greek is
Osborne, 1994). Ancient Greek mosaic.
orders such as Doric and Ionic
were not only functional but also
elegant. In addition, Early Greek
sculptors were good at showing
human perfection. The art most
associated with ancient Greek is
 the Venus de Milo.
Economy Early Greek economy was based Early Roman economy was also based chiefly on
mainly on agriculture (Burckhardt, agriculture. Wine and olive oil were produced for
2002). Wheat was the staple food export. Wheat, the staple food for early Roman was
and was produced in small farms. imported from neighboring nations. In addition to
Big estates mainly for wine and farming, the Romans engaged in trade and
olive oil also existed. manufacturing.
Social Classes Social classes in early Greek Social classes in early Rome also changed over
changed over time. The main time. The unique divisions included patricians,
divisions however included plebeians, slaves and freedmen.
citizens, freedmen, slaves, metics
and women.
Women With exception of Sparta, women Women in early Rome were subject to male figure
in early Greek had limited in their household: Paterfamilias. Roman women
freedom. The women were valued had much freedom as compared to early Greek
for the way they managed their women (Selincourt, Ogilvie & Oakley, 2002). They
household, for producing could own and sell property and could become
legitimate children and for not roman citizens.
gossiping (Goldhill & Osborne,
1994). Though women could not
be citizens, they were allowed to
own property but could not sell
them. Even after marriage, women
remained under their fathers’
authority.
Fathers Fathers in ancient Greek were Paterfamilias was the head of early Roman family.
dominant in their families. The The paterfamilias had authority even on their
fathers could even decide whether married sons.
to keep a newborn or not. Grown
up sons however could challenges
their fathers.
Government The city states in ancient Greek Kings initially governed early Rome. The
were mainly governed monarchy form of government gave way to
independently. The forms of republican government and later to emperors.
governments changed from
monarchy to oligarchy and then to
democracy.
Literature Early Greek literature and Early roman literature borrowed much from early
and philosophy has great influence to Greek literature. The literature included epigram,
Philosophy the modern western culture. drama and prose. Unlike early Greek literature,
Influential early Greek literature Roman literature tended to be satirical (Selincourt,
includes Odyssey, Iliad and the Ogilvie & Oakley, 2002). In fact, satire is originally
 Humor (Burckhardt, 2002). Early Roman. In philosophy, early Rome brought about
Greek philosophers such as Stoicism. Stoicism represented the world view of
Socrates, Plato and Aristotle’s had the early Roman.
great contribution to western
thought.
Religion Early Greek was polytheist. The Ancient Rome was also polytheistic. Ancient
Greeks believed in gods and Romans accepted many of Greek gods and gods
goddesses that included Zeus, from other nations that were part of the Roman
Artemis, Poseidon, Dionysus, empire (Green, 1996). Because of the many gods
Hestia, Hermes and Ares. Greeks and ways of worship, the ancient Romans founded
believed that worshipping the a college of pontiffs whose role was to regulate
gods and goddesses would better worship.
their lives while offending the
gods could bring misfortune.
References List

Burckhardt, J. (2002). History of Greek Culture. New York: Courier Dover Publications.

Goldhill, S. & Osborne, R. (1994). Art and text in ancient Greek culture. Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press

Green, P. (1996). Hellenistic History and Culture. Ewing: University of California Press.

Selincourt, L., Ogilvie, R. & Oakley, S. (2002). The early history of Rome: books I-V of The
history of Rome from its foundations. New York: Penguin.

Best regards

Mrs Diabi