Ancient Greek And Roman Empires Essay - 1643 Words

Most of the history of the past that is known today has been gathered from primary sources of the times of interest such as original documents and objects. It is through these sources that historians are able to gain an in depth, and maybe sometimes biased, view into the lives of the people of the time and what was going on in the period. Despite being two vastly different genres of primary sources, Cicero’s letters and Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey, give some of the best ideas into life for the ancient Greek and Roman empires. Through analysis of these two works, some key similarities and differences of how both empires functioned are brought to light. During Odysseus’s travels and Cicero’s exile, both dreamt of nothing but being able to return home to the place they belonged. Calypso, who had been keeping Odysseus on her island for several years, in an attempt to get him to stay with her even tries to tempt Odysseus with immortality and warns him of the troubles he will have attempting to return and upon arriving (Odyssey 72-73). Despite this temptation and the warning, Odysseus says: My thought-full Penelopeia, beside you, is not so tall or striking to look at. The lady will die; you are undying and ageless. Even so I go on longing all of my days here to sail back home, to see that homecoming light. (Odyssey 73) Despite the pleasures he may have and the troubles he may avoid by staying with Calypso, Odysseus still desires nothing more than to returnShow MoreRelatedAncient Greeks And The Roman Empire1085 Words   |  5 Pagesbuilt, by the Ancient Greeks, in a day.† (Crest) Ancient Greece was founded in 800 B.C. and was seen to be the first technical, civilized society. Within this society there were large advances in art, poetry and technology. Despite these advances Greece finally fell to the Romans in the Battle of Corinth in circa 146 B.C. and was established as a Province of the Roman Empire. This occupation, by the Empire of Rome inside of Greece was a symbolic moment of their history. The Romans witnessed theRead More Ancient Greek And Roman Empire Essay518 Words   |  3 Pages Ancient Greek and Roman similarities. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The ancient Greek and Roman civilizations of Europe began to progress toward a more civilized order of society. As there were no previous establishment to base their ideals on, it was understandable that there were some difficulties in their progression as a society. 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The basic forming of our own government can be traced back to the ideals that formed the Roman and Greek governments, paying attention their strengths and also to what caused the demise of those societies as well. (teachergenius.teachtci.com) Let us examine the Roman influences and facts first. Roman Governmental Influence: There wasRead MoreA Culture Can Be Characterized By Geographical Features,1092 Words   |  5 Pages A culture can be characterized by geographical features, eating habits, family, and religious beliefs. All of these can change over time. However, how it begins is the foundation for all humankind. The Ancient Greek and Roman societies emphasized religion as the heart of their life. Everything in their lives centered on their religion. Religion is a part of any society in the world. It affects people’s lives everyday. Religion is â€Å"the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especiallyRead MoreThe Roman Medicine991 Words   |  4 Pagessana in corpore sano† (Juvenal 10.356). A healthy mind in a healthy body, the Ancient Romans lived by this motto. The Ancient Romans believed that the health of the people was key to success in war and in creating a prosperous empire. Roman texts that have been gathered overtime have gre atly influenced modern medical practices and without them, modern medicine would not be as advanced as it is today. The Ancient Romans learned numerous details about the human body and applied their knowledge in waysRead MoreComparing Ancient Greek and Ancient Roman Architecture Essay1132 Words   |  5 PagesThe two ancient civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome were the best of the best during their time periods. Ancient Greece began around 2000 B.C. by the inhabitants known as the Mycenaean’s, followed by the Minoans. The Minoans built the foundation of Greece. The Roman Empire was founded around 753 B.C. by the two twins, Romulus and Remus. Romulus ended up killing Remus and built the city of Rome on one of seven rolling hills. Architecture was very important to both civilizations and they were