Mediterranean Empires Comparing: Greece and Rome

Question 1

Greece

Answer 1

• Indo European
• city-states
• Sparta and Athens
• did not have major religion (but are tolerant)
• weakening of Athens and Sparta form Peloponnesian Wars
• Macadeonians and Alexander the Great invaded
• citizens felt that city-states was theirs with rights and obligations, they participated in the military
• no single political style, ruled by strong men (tyranny) most common
• Aristotle: taught followers to question conventional wisdom with rational inquiry (taught importance of moderation, philosophy for morals)
• science, geometry, anatomy

Question 2

Rome

Answer 2

• did not have major religion
• local monarchy
• driven out by aristocrats
• formed republic
• Punic wars
• Civil war
• Pax Romana: Golden Age
• 200 years of Decline
• turned to law
• kingdom, then republic, then empire
• two counsels
• local autonomy
• rebel causes complete take over
• tolerant
• strong military
• carefully crafted laws (Twelve Tablets/Tables, restrain upper class from arbitrary action)
• Cicero: (taught importance of moderation, philosophy for morals)
• science, engineering, laws

Question 3

Fall of Rome

Answer 3

• 250 years of decline
• economic deterioration
• loss of population
• falling trade levels
• falling birth rates
• dependency of non-Romans

Question 4

Politics in Rome and Greece

Answer 4

• ruled by aristocrats
• elements of democracy
• similar to Confucianism
• similar to India

Question 5

Athens

Answer 5

• major decisions by general assemblies

- very few active participants

Question 6

Sparta

Answer 6

• militaristic

- aristocracy

Question 7

Roman Empire

Answer 7

• stadiums
• public baths
• cheap food
• circus
• distract the people, help prevent public disorder
• tolerant of religion as long as no conflict to loyalty of state
• no creation of significant religion (also in Greece)
• what Gods could reveal about humans on earth (Greece also)
• objectivity

Question 8

Greece and Rome

Answer 8

• agriculture
• slaves
• trade

Question 9

objectivity was the aim of _____

Answer 9

• Roman law

Question 10

when Rome began, it had what form of government?

Answer 10

• local monarchy

Question 11

much like ancient India, both Greek and Roman civilizations were _____

Answer 11

• fragmented

Question 12

Rome’s decline was advanced by dependence on non-Roman _____

Answer 12

• army-recruits

Question 13

moderation was a value extolled by _____

Answer 13

• Aristotle

Question 14

to prevent disorder, the Roman gave citizens _____

Answer 14

• bread and circuses

Question 15

rational inquiry was extolled by _____

Answer 15

• Socrates

Question 16

the Twelve Tables were the centerpiece of _____ law

Answer 16

• Roman

Question 17

this city-state was a militaristic aristocracy

Answer 17

• Sparta

Question 18

Roman _____ were designed to be objective

Answer 18

• laws