20+ Differences Between The Romans And The Greeks (Explained)

Old cities have old stories, and that has all of us excited and intrigued at the same time. The extremely old societies of Rome and Greece still exist in parts today, and the history of the land is the talk of the town amongst today’s learned scholars who would like to learn more about the two societies.

However, staying in an ambiguous world filled with diverse cultures, it is essential to understand the differences between the two societies of Rome and Greece. Thus, in this article, we will be looking at the same.

Table of Contents

A Comparison Between Romans And Greeks

Parameters	Romans	Greeks
Timeline	The society of Romans came into existence between the period of 753 BC and 1453.	The Greeks were known to have thrived and existed between the period of 7000 BC (which was also known as the period of Neolithic Greece) and 146 BC.
Art	The Romans are claimed to have copied Greek art, but with a more naturalistic aesthetic and an emphasis on the sentiments of common people felt by the populace at the time.	The Greeks were renowned for their sense of aesthetics. They had a firm grip on sculpture and had created several statues of generals and politicians in addition to Greek God sculptures.
Language	To speak with one another, the Roman individuals first used Latin.	While interacting with one another, the Greek people initially utilized that language, which was the dominant one in Greece at the time.
Architecture	Rome was renowned for its genuine style in both architecture and design. Yet, Greek architecture really served as an inspiration for Roman buildings. It was noted that Roman architects used many Greek materials and paid greater attention to real building design. In addition, concrete was first adopted by the Roman civilization.	The Greeks were renowned for putting their own unique spin on art and architecture. Historians and architects have noted that they have mostly concentrated on sculpting and producing statuesque figures in structures utilizing a range of metals, wood, and plaster.
Religion	The Roman civilization identified its Gods in Latin, which is the only difference between the two faiths. It has been noted that the Greek religion greatly influenced the Roman religion.	The Gods Zeus, Hades, Poseidon, and others were among the collection of Pagan deities that the Greek religion fervently believed in.
Political Setup	The Roman political system raised some red flags. Scholars who have researched the history of the Romans have noted that their nation frequently vacillated between the ideas of democracy and monarchy.	Because the Greeks were naturally free and independent, their political system was pleasant and straightforward. They, therefore, supported the idea of democracy, according to which each individual has a unique set of rights and may participate in national politics.
Nature of People	The inhabitants of the Roman Empire were a group of highly intelligent people who, among other things, studied mathematical theorems, philosophy, epistemology, and other topics that interested them. They were particularly interested in the values of truth, justice, and intellectual pursuits in general.	In addition to all the other professions that the group of people from Greece were capable of, they were a colloquium of extremely intellectually gifted individuals who made their living primarily as thinkers, philosophers, theologians, authors, poets, political ideologists, and political thinkers.
Life After Death	The Romans believed that if people live an ideal and model life, they will become Gods in the hereafter.	Those who belonged to the Greek civilization held to the belief that after death, a person begins a trip to the underworld.

The Contrast Between Romans And Greeks

Who exactly are the Romans?

The Romans came into existence in the period of 753 BC and lasted till 1453. Although the Romans used Latin as their primary language, other languages picked up as time passed by.

The Romans left behind many artifacts before ceasing to exist. This provides the next generation of historians with an exciting field of study, other than being a mystic story to people around the globe today.

Romans:

The society of the Romans existed between the period of 753 BC and 1453.

The society of Rome spoke the Latin language while conversing with each other.

The society of Romans had named their Gods in the Latin language.

The society of Romans kept switching between the two constructs of democracy and monarchy.

According to the society of Romans, if an individual leads an ideal and a model life, they would become Gods in their life after death, i.e., the afterlife.

Who exactly are the Greeks?

The society of the Greeks was primarily a farming community established between the period of 7000 BC (the period of Neolithic Greece) and 146 BC.

Interestingly, ancient Greece came into existence in the period of 2800 BC. People who were from Greece depended on their primary language, i.e., Greek, to communicate with each other, although other languages like English were used as well.

Greeks:

The society of the Greeks existed between the period of 700 BC and 146 BC.

The society of Greece spoke the Greek language while conversing with each other.

The society of Greece followed the Pagan way of thought, which included the Gods Zeus, Hades, Poseidon, etc.

The society of the Greeks followed the system of a democracy wherein people were free and independent to use a set of rights that had been guaranteed to them by the just law of the land.

According to society of Greeks, if an individual passes away, they begin a journey to the underworld after their death.

Major Differences Between Romans And Greeks

Timeline:

Romans: It has been communicated to us by a group of historians and other learned scholars who are properly educated in this field and other related areas of study that the society of Romans essentially came into existence and was reportedly established between the period of 753 BC and 1453.

Greeks: It has been communicated to us by a group of historians and other learned scholars who are properly educated in this field that the society of Greeks was primarily a farming community that had been reportedly established between the periods of 7000 BC (which was also known as the period of Neolithic Greece) and 146 BC.

Art:

Romans: It has been observed by a set of historians educated in the field that the society of the Romans has allegedly been caught imitating the art of Greeks, but in a comparatively more naturalistic approach while emphasizing the expressions of ordinary people that the public of that period of time felt.

Greeks: It has been observed by a group of historians and other learned scholars who are educated in the field that the society of the Greeks was primarily known for its artistic sense, aside from its other inspired qualities. They had a strong hold over sculpting and had worked on several sculptures of statesmen and generals, just like that of the Greek Gods.

Language:

Romans: It has been observed by several historians and other learned scholars who are properly educated in the field that the society of the Romans initially spoke in the Latin language while communicating with each other.

Greeks: It has been observed by several historians and other learned scholars who are properly educated in the field that the society of the Greeks initially spoke in the Greek language while communicating with each other, which was the primary language used in Greece at that period of time.

Architecture:

Romans: The society of the Romans was known for having an authentic touch on architecture and design. However, in close contact, it was observed that Roman architecture was, in fact, inspired by Greek architecture. It was observed that the Roman architects focused more on the actual building design and largely used Greek materials. Moreover, it is also significantly noted that Roman society was the first to have introduced concrete.

Greeks: The society of the Greeks was primarily known for having an authentic touch on the architecture and design of the city that it was engulfed in. It was observed by a group of historians and architects who were properly educated in this area of study that the Greeks focused largely on sculpting and creating statuesque figures in buildings by using plaster, wood, and marble, as well as a variety of metals.

Religion:

Romans: It has been observed in the society of the Romans that the Greek religion very much inspired the Roman religion. It is interestingly observed that the only dissimilarity that existed between the two religions was the fact that the society of the Romans had, in fact, named their Gods in Latin.

Greeks: It has been observed about the ancient society of Greeks, the people who believed in the Greek religion earnestly believed in the collection of Gods who followed the Pagan way of thought, which included the male God Zeus, the God of the underworld Hades, and the God of the sea and horses, Poseidon, amongst other Gods in the Greek religion.

Political Setup:

Romans: The political setup that existed in the Roman society at that time was questionable. It has been observed by the learned scholars who have studied the history of the Romans that the society of the Romans has reportedly shown signs of often switching back and forth between the concepts of democracy and monarchy.

Greeks: The political setup that existed in Greek society at that time was sweet and placed. This is because the people of the land were free and independent in nature. Thus, they believed in the concept of democracy, wherein people have their own set of separate rights and have a say in the political disputes in the country.

Nature of People:

Romans: The people who belonged to the ancient land of Rome were considered to be a set of individuals who were extremely capable in an intellectual sense and were mostly into conducting studies in relation to the ideals of truth, justice, mathematical theorems, epistemology, and philosophy, amongst all the other subjects that interested the particular group of Roman individuals.

Greeks: The particular people who belonged to the ancient land of Greece were considered to be a set of individuals who were extremely capable in an intellectual sense and were mostly a colloquium of people who survived by following the professions of being thinkers, philosophers, theologians, authors, poets, political ideologists, and political thinkers, amongst all the other professions the set of individuals belonging to Greece were capable of.

Life After Death:

Romans: It has been observed by a group of historians and other learned scholars who are properly educated in the field that the people who belonged to the ancient society of the Romans believed in the way of thought that if an individual leads an ideal and a model life and follows all the rules delivered to them during their time on Earth, they will become Gods in their life after death, i.e., in the afterlife.

Greeks: It has been observed by a group of historians and other learned scholars who are properly educated in the field that the people who belonged to the ancient society of the Greeks believed in the way of thought that if an individual passes away, they begin a journey to the underworld after their death.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What is the most critical difference between the societies of the Romans and the Greeks?

Ans. The key difference between the two societies of the Romans and the Greeks lies in the time period both thrived. It is understood that the Romans thrived between 753 BC and 1453, while the society of the Greeks existed between 7000 BC and 146 BC.

Q2. What is the difference between the religions of the Romans and the Greek society?

Ans. The most crucial difference that exists between the two societies of the Romans and the Greeks lies in the authenticity factor of it. It is believed that although Greek society was original and authentic in its understanding of God, Roman society was simply inspired and named their Gods in the Latin language.