Rise and Fall of Athens and Ancient Rome Essay examples

History has witnessed the rise and fall of many powerful cities, starting with Ur and Babylon and continuing into present day with cities such as New York City. Two of these cities, ancient Athens and ancient Rome, stand out from other cities of their time due to their culture, politics, and influence, both on the world around them and on future civilizations. These strengths qualify them as world cities, and despite their eventual losses of power, their legacies live on. Athens obtained hegemony around 448 BC, right after the war-like city-state of Sparta. Athens’ Golden Age was under the rule of Pericles, who initiated a large number of public works projects and encouraged the arts and literature. With the help of rulers such as†¦show more content†¦Called the â€Å"Eternal City,† Rome emerged as the capital city of a powerful Republic at about 508 BC. Roman culture was greatly influenced by that of Greece, and Rome too emerged as a center of art and lit erature while also making vast contributions to the development of technology, war, law, and architecture in the Western world. With the Roman Empire’s dominance over most of Europe, the city of Rome became and remained the richest, largest, and most politically important city in the Western world for almost a thousand years, clearly defining it as world city that made its mark on the pages of history. This great wealth was demonstrated through the luxurious nature of the society, which included numerous intricate and architecturally stunning public baths. Another example of Rome’s extensive resources and capabilities is the Roman Coliseum, which represented a feat of architecture and engineering at the time and was used for all sorts of spectator events. Rome also became known for its close ties with the Catholic Church, being established as the center of the Church by the Pope and remaining a â€Å"holy city† for centuries. Eventually the illustrious Roma n Empire declined due to a combination of economic problems, which gradually affected the empire, and invasions, which were its ultimate downfall. With the end of the Roman Empire came the end of Rome’s capital status, which was transferred instead to Milan. Despite eventually losing thisShow MoreRelatedHow Strongly Ancient Societies Affected The Formation Of Today s Society1434 Words   |  6 Pagesaims to investigate how strongly ancient societies affected the formation of today’s society, by analyzing several characteristics basically originating from civilisations of Ancient Antiquity such as Greece and Rome. The civilized culture is dated back to ancient Greeks and Romans. Their contribution to philosophy, literature and politics has undeniably helped to form notions of modern Western cultures. This is because, assorted essential features in the life of Ancient Greeks and Romans which willRead MorePythagoras, Plato, And Plotinus989 Words   |  4 Pagesfind li nks between philosophers and their theories. Pythagoras, Plato, and Plotinus, though from all different historical and philosophical periods, formed philosophies similar to one another or built upon aspects from one another’s. Pythagoras (Ancient History Encyclopedia) Pythagoras, am Ionian Greek mathematician and philosopher during the naturalist period, is known for the creation of the Pythagoreanism movement. 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After reading bits and pieces of both the ancient Roman and Chinese history, one can only gain a greater perspective on how these attitudes derived. In 391 nomads called the Gauls defeated a small army of Roman aristocrats and burnt down the town of Rome. After this attack, Rome rebuilt its townRead MoreEssay about Attitudes of War in Ancient Civilizations1034 Words   |  5 Pagesabout war in both ancient Rome and China. These attitudes prove that in these cases perhaps it is safe to say that wars are not inevitable or natural but were caused by warlike societies and social situations. After reading bits and pieces of both the ancient Roman and Chinese history, one can only gain a greater perspective on how these attitudes derived. In 391 nomads called the Gauls defeated a small army of Roman aristocrats and burnt down the town of Rome. 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Boys judged fit were taken from their mothers at the age of seven and put under control of the state. The Spartan government was an oligarchy headed by two kings, whole the Spartan army on its campaigns. Athens had become a unifiedRead MoreThe Great Differences Between Ancient Greece And Rome And Modern Life1200 Words   |  5 Pagescomputers, are we that different than many of the ancient societies that we have studied? No doubt there are great differences between ancient Greece and Rome and modern life in the US. But the needs of people to live well, create a social structure and advance as a people are all things that we share. Furthermore, the human emotions that drive discoveries and advancements have been consistent throughout time. Let’s take a look at ancient Greece and Rome and see how much we have in common. Let’s startRead MoreReligious, Moral And Political Progress1937 Words   |  8 PagesReligious, Moral and Political Progress throughout Ancient Times How has the world changed from thousands of years ago? How did we become who we are today? In order for us to understand our present, we must understand our past. Throughout the ages, ideas popped up and people made various changes and reforms. From earlier civilizations like the ancient Greeks and Romans to the people in late antiquity like the Christians, certain aspects of people’s culture develop and progress into a more advancedRead 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, especially