Eastern Europe and Russia, AP World History p.2
Societal Comparison
Time Period: Foundations to 600 C.E.
Significant events of time period: (see Timeline/Important events/trends/people)
Society One: Greece
Society Two: Rome
Significant events of time period: (see Timeline/Important events/trends/people)
Society One: Greece
Society Two: Rome
Characteristics of Society One:
Political: Direct Democracy, very rarely a total dictatorship (mostly in the past).
Social: Mostly farmers/lower class people, little to no merchant class, and of course, some elites. Slaves were present.
Economic: Based on commercial agriculture, trade, and slavery.
Artistic: Created beautiful architecture that still stands and awes people today. Focused on sculpture. World-class and still read today classical literature.
Religious: Did not create own religion, mostly polytheistic until Christianity was adopted in the 300s C.E.
Intellectual: Created many theories, did not experiment or do practical science; all of it was speculation.
Technological: Not very big technological innovators, but had farming tools and ships.
Military: Athens-large naval military
Geographic: Hilly, Greek Penninsula, surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea
Demographic: Mostly Greeks, a few Middle Easterners
Women's status: Seen as wives, had no say (unless you were Alexander the Great's mom)
Political: Direct Democracy, very rarely a total dictatorship (mostly in the past).
Social: Mostly farmers/lower class people, little to no merchant class, and of course, some elites. Slaves were present.
Economic: Based on commercial agriculture, trade, and slavery.
Artistic: Created beautiful architecture that still stands and awes people today. Focused on sculpture. World-class and still read today classical literature.
Religious: Did not create own religion, mostly polytheistic until Christianity was adopted in the 300s C.E.
Intellectual: Created many theories, did not experiment or do practical science; all of it was speculation.
Technological: Not very big technological innovators, but had farming tools and ships.
Military: Athens-large naval military
Geographic: Hilly, Greek Penninsula, surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea
Demographic: Mostly Greeks, a few Middle Easterners
Women's status: Seen as wives, had no say (unless you were Alexander the Great's mom)
Characteristics of Society Two:
Political: Senate was present for several years, then Caesar became the first dictator and there were dictators from there on out.
Social: Mostly farmers/lower class people, landlords controlled these people. Small merchant class, some elites. Slaves were present.
Economic: Based on commercial agriculture, trade, and slavery.
Artistic: Created beautiful architecture that also still stands today, also had mosaics as a major art form. Focused on paintings.
Religious: Did not create own religion, mostly polytheistic until Christianity was adopted in the 300s C.E.
Intellectual: Not very into intellectual ideas
Technological: Aqueducts-greatest engineering achievement. Very skilled and technologically advanced army.
Military: Huge army that conquered most of Europe
Geographic: Italian Penninsula, hilly, surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea
Demographic: Variety of demographic backgrounds because of vast territory conquered
Women's Status: Had no real status.
Political: Senate was present for several years, then Caesar became the first dictator and there were dictators from there on out.
Social: Mostly farmers/lower class people, landlords controlled these people. Small merchant class, some elites. Slaves were present.
Economic: Based on commercial agriculture, trade, and slavery.
Artistic: Created beautiful architecture that also still stands today, also had mosaics as a major art form. Focused on paintings.
Religious: Did not create own religion, mostly polytheistic until Christianity was adopted in the 300s C.E.
Intellectual: Not very into intellectual ideas
Technological: Aqueducts-greatest engineering achievement. Very skilled and technologically advanced army.
Military: Huge army that conquered most of Europe
Geographic: Italian Penninsula, hilly, surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea
Demographic: Variety of demographic backgrounds because of vast territory conquered
Women's Status: Had no real status.
Explanation of similarities and differences: Greece and Rome were similar societies mostly because they were right next to each other. They differed in political ideas, which is a major topic. Greece believed in democracy, or central power. Rome believed in small state control, one person controlling all. Social is the same because of closeness and living under the same ruler, same with economic. Artistic is different because of the type of society. Greece was thought based, which is why the literature is good. Religions remained the same in the 300s C.E. because they were under the same ruler when Christianity was adopted. Intellectually, Greece was better (since when have you heard of a Roman philosopher?). Technologically, Rome was better, as well as militarially. Geographically, because they were in the same region, the were almost guaranteed to be the same. Demographically Rome wins for most diverse because of their vast territory. Women's Status was of course the same; none.
-Emily A., 12/15/10
-Emily A., 12/15/10
