History: Foundations of Western Civilization - Essay Example

Compare Hellenic and Hellenistic Greece. In your comparison, pick two or three significant areas (culture, political and economic s, war, gender, family life, religion, art/architecture, etc.). Discuss key similarities and differences, and the reasons for each similarity and/or difference you see. Hellenic were the people who lived in Greece before the conquests of Phillip while Hellenistic refers to people during the period after Alexander the Great’s conquests. The Hellenic architecture consisted primarily of pyramids while the new architectural types of theaters were found.

Less time was spent on temples. Streets were laid out is straight lines in the era instead of just developing naturally. Architecture was used as a means to spread the Greek culture. The Hellenic language was classical Greek which was the creation of the people with superior thought and mental consistency. In Hellenistic Greece people spoke Greek (kione), Aramaic. While slavery was widespread in both the worlds, Hellenic Greece had small, self-governing city states. The Hellenistic world had empires ruled by the monarchs and kings.

The differences occurred because the Hellenic were isolated and there their civilization was called classic because they were not influenced by external forces. Hellenistic era also known as "the age of the Greeks" on the other hand was a mixture of civilizations. Compare Republican and Imperial Rome. In your comparison, focus on developments in two or three significant areas (culture, political and economic institutions, war, gender, family life, religion, art/architecture, etc.). Discuss key similarities and differences, and the reasons for each similarity and/or difference you see.

The Republican Rome (509-27 BC) had a lot of Greek influence and the conduct of political affairs was dominated by the senators and small number of noble families. Imperial Rome lasted from 14-180 AD during which time it grew dramatically. Under Augustus, an organizational genius, there was quasi-monarchical rule but after that it was more like a monarchy. While in the Republican Rome the political factions were the Populares or the Optimates, in Imperial Rome they were imperators where the emperor rules in accordance with the symbols and powers of the Republic All the rulers in Imperial Rome demonstrated how power could be wielded and that the power was based on military power.

Literary it was a creative phase although culturally it was regarded as less creative and less interesting. The Roman culture declined in Imperial Rome morals and the society and government was ruled by passions. Christianity was introduced during this period. Did Rome in the West really Fall? How did increasing contact between Roman civilization and the Germanic barbarians transform both? What part did Constantine play in the Fall of the Western Empire? Although Rome underwent several shocks in the fourth and fifth centuries, so such thing as ‘decline’ or ‘fall’ occurred.

Even though the transfer from the imperiate to non-Romans was violent, Rome remained in existence. The Romans and the Barbarians had a complex relationship where they exchanged ideas and formed the basis of Western European Civilization. The Barbarians assimilated into the Roman world, became provincials and eventually Romanized themselves. The Romans gained because they could adapt and build on the existing structures of the Barbarian world. The Romans felt that Barbarians were potential allies and the Barbarian society gained because through assimilation they contributed towards the establishment of Roman provinces.

Their alliance became known as the Holy Roman Empire combining the power of the Church and the State. Constantine was the first emperor to convert to Christianity and demanded that he be worshipped as a God. There were as many forms of Christianity as there were Christians. When he died, he divided the empire between his three sons who started fighting against each other to gain complete control over the empire. The fourth century was hence a period of internal squabbles and fractions. All the sons of Constantine adopted Christianity but the emperor opposed the religion and tried to dismiss all the Christian from the government.

Bibliography Hellenic and Hellenistic Societies, 08 May 2007 Stats, J., (2007), Comparing Civilizations, 08 May 2007 Rome, Imperial Rome, 08 May 2007 Rome and the Barbarians, 08 May 2007