Step 1 – Organize Your Facts Use the Three-Column Chart to organize your facts about each civilization. Put your name at the top of the chart. Complete the chart by filling in the first column with the following information: Government: What was the structure and what were the main principles of each civilization's government? Arts: What contributions or achievements did each civilization make in visual art, science, architecture, literature, theater, and medicine? Economics: How did the civilizations grow and prosper? Religion: What were the common religious practices? What was the government’s role in religion? See the table for an example. Use your textbook or other reliable resources to answer the questions. Responses to questions should be in complete sentences. They should also follow conventional guidelines for spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Make sure to cite your sources in the chart. Note that not all parts of the chart will apply to each civilization. Comparison Ancient Greece Ancient Rome Government: What was the structure and what were the main principles of each civilization's government? Arts: What contributions or achievements did each civilization make in visual art, science, architecture, literature, theater, and medicine? Economics: How did the civilizations grow and prosper? Religion: What were the common religious practices? What was the government’s role in religion?

7 answers

Ancient Greece
Government: Ancient Greece was made up of city-states, each with its own form of government. The most well-known city-state, Athens, had a democracy where citizens participated in government decision-making. Sparta, on the other hand, had an oligarchy, with a council of elders making decisions.
Arts: Ancient Greece made significant contributions to visual art with their sculptures and pottery. They also excelled in science, architecture, literature, and theater. The Greeks laid the foundation for modern medicine with their observations and treatments.
Economics: Ancient Greece grew and prospered through trade, agriculture, and mining. They also relied heavily on slavery for labor.
Religion: Ancient Greeks believed in multiple gods and goddesses, with each city-state having their own patron deity. The government often sponsored religious festivals and ceremonies.

Ancient Rome
Government: Ancient Rome started as a monarchy and later developed into a republic, where citizens elected representatives to make decisions. Eventually, Rome became an empire with an emperor holding all authority.
Arts: Ancient Rome excelled in architecture, engineering, and literature. They are known for their construction of roads, aqueducts, and amphitheaters. Roman playwrights like Seneca and Plautus made important contributions to theater.
Economics: Ancient Rome grew and prospered through conquest, trade, and agriculture. They also used slave labor extensively to sustain their economy.
Religion: Ancient Romans initially worshiped many gods and goddesses, similar to the Greeks. Later on, Christianity became prevalent, leading to conflict with the government. The Roman government sometimes promoted certain religions while persecuting others, depending on the emperor in power.
Step 2 – Complete a Venn Diagram

After you have gathered all your facts, select three areas to compare and contrast in your essay. To help you organize your ideas, complete a Venn Diagram that compares and contrasts three aspects of Greek and Roman civilizations. First, put your name at the top of the worksheet. Next, use your responses from the Three Column Chart Graphic Organizer to complete the Venn Diagram. Title one circle, “Greek Civilization” and the other circle, “Roman Civilization.” Use each circle to explain how the civilizations differed from each other. Use the section where the circles overlap to explain how the civilizations were similar to each other. Information on this chart does not need to be in complete sentences.
Name: [Your Name]

Greek Civilization Roman Civilization

Government: - City-states with democracy (Athens) - Republic government
- Oligarchy (Sparta) - Later became an empire with an emperor

Arts: - Sculptures, pottery - Architecture, engineering
- Science, literature - Theater

Economics: - Relied on trade, agriculture, mining - Relied on conquest, trade, agriculture
- Used slavery extensively - Used slavery extensively

Religion: - Belief in multiple gods - Initially worshiped many gods
- Government-sponsored religious festivals - Later adopted Christianity
- Government-sponsored certain religions

Similarities:
- Both civilizations relied on slavery for labor
- Both civilizations made significant contributions to art and literature
- Both civilizations used trade and agriculture to grow and prosper
Step 2 – Complete a Venn Diagram
After you have gathered all your facts, select three areas to compare and contrast in your essay. To help you organize your ideas, complete a Venn Diagram that compares and contrasts three aspects of Greek and Roman civilizations. First, put your name at the top of the worksheet. Next, use your responses from the Three Column Chart Graphic Organizer to complete the Venn Diagram. Title one circle, “Greek Civilization” and the other circle, “Roman Civilization.” Use each circle to explain how the civilizations differed from each other. Use the section where the circles overlap to explain how the civilizations were similar to each other. Information on this chart does not need to be in complete sentences.

There are three sections: Different Similar Different
Name: [Your Name]

Greek Civilization Similar Roman Civilization

Different:
- Government: City-states with democracy (Athens) Republic government
- Arts: Sculptures, pottery Architecture, engineering
- Economics: Relied on trade, agriculture, mining Relied on conquest, trade
- Used slavery extensively - Used slavery extensively
Different

Similar:
- Both civilizations relied on slavery for labor
- Both civilizations made significant contributions to art and literature
- Both civilizations used trade and agriculture to grow and prosper
Step 3 – Write Your Comparative Essay

After you have completed your outline, write your comparative essay. Your comparative essay must include the three aspects you compared and contrasted in your Venn Diagram. Your essay should be five paragraphs in length. It should include an introductory paragraph, three paragraphs that analyze the similarities and differences of the three civilizations, and a concluding paragraph.
Introductory paragraph: Ancient Greek and Roman civilizations are often studied and compared due to their significant contributions to art, politics, religion, and economy. While they share some similarities, such as reliance on slavery and achievements in art and literature, they also have distinct differences in terms of government structure, economic systems, and religious practices.

Paragraph 1 – Government: The Greek civilization was comprised of city-states with democratic elements in Athens and an oligarchic system in Sparta. In contrast, the Roman civilization started as a republic where citizens elected representatives and later transitioned into an empire ruled by an emperor. The Greek city-states allowed citizen participation in decision-making, while the Roman republic featured elected officials making governmental decisions. These differences in government structures influenced the way each civilization operated and interacted with its citizens.

Paragraph 2 – Arts: Both Greek and Roman civilizations made significant contributions to art and literature. The Greeks were renowned for their sculptures, pottery, science, literature, and theater. On the other hand, the Romans excelled in architecture, engineering, and literature. Greek art focused on realism and idealism in their sculptures, while Roman architecture showcased grandeur and engineering prowess in structures like aqueducts and amphitheaters. Despite these differences in artistic styles, both civilizations left a lasting impact on the artistic world.

Paragraph 3 – Economics: The Greek civilization relied on trade, agriculture, and mining for economic growth, while the Roman civilization prospered through conquest, trade, and agriculture. Both civilizations heavily utilized slave labor to sustain their economies. However, the Greek economy was more focused on trade and agriculture, whereas the Roman economy expanded through military conquests and territorial acquisitions. These economic differences influenced the way wealth was accumulated and distributed within each civilization.

Concluding paragraph: In conclusion, the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations shared similarities and differences in government structure, artistic achievements, and economic systems. Both civilizations contributed significantly to art, literature, and technology, leaving a lasting impact on Western civilization. By studying these civilizations and analyzing their similarities and differences, we gain a better understanding of the complexities of ancient societies and the ways in which they continue to influence modern life.