- Published: September 28, 2022
- Updated: September 28, 2022
- University / College: University of East Anglia (UEA)
- Level: Undergraduate
- Language: English
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Revised Human civilization can be traced back to the Greece, Greco-Roman ancient times and medieval Europe. Modern art and architecture adapted many styles and ideas from ancient Greece and Rome, and medieval Europe. Greece is the hub of all modern cultures. Without doubt, both medieval Europe and Rome had similar sense of art. In the same context, it was medieval Europe that adopted art from the Romans, who on the other hand, borrowed art from the Greeks. This comparative paper seeks to compare and contrast the early civilization of ancient Greece with that of Greco Rome, and/or otherwise.
The Greeks were purely democratic; they had no single leader but were instead ruled by the oligarchy that was elected by the common man. Conversely, the Roman government system was primed on semi-democracy. They had a ruling senate, which comprised of wealthy magnates. Moreover, the political power of the Romans was wholly in the hands of a solitary monarch.
The ruins of the primordial world like Ephesus, Pergamum, Pompeii and Volubilus attest to the fact that the Greeks and Romans were exceptional builders. Tourist by the suck load today still give special and pure regard to the ruins in Athens and Rome. The buildings that were constructed at this ancient and medieval time have lasted and passed the test of time. In Medieval Europe around 1000-1300 A. D., however, the architectures and builders adapted the ancient Roman art and architecture, which they used in building historical landmarks The architecture of medieval Europe should be associated with genius. Matter of factly, people of medieval Europe and the Romans were exceptional builders. Their architecture was both tremendous and restrained.
On the same length, the expression of art was considerably left by those works which survived the classical age because the medieval art was religiously influenced. Medieval Europe adapted a lot of things from the Romans. These include art and architecture and theatre The Romans were endowed with building comparatively superior roads that were well connected to each other. This was a style that was well adapted across Europe.
Unlike the visual ancient Roman art, medieval art emerged from the artist legacy of the Roman Empire, and partly from some Christian traditions of the early church. These were interspersed with the dynamic barbarian artistic culture of northern Europe to make exceptional artistic heritage. Come to think of, the chronicler of the medieval history makes us view the possibility of interaction amid the rudiments of orthodox, early Christian and barbarian art. Far from the recognized characteristics of orthodox, there was persistent culture of practical portrayal of things that lived through the Byzantine art.
Romans and Greeks were great lovers of theatre; the ancient Greek theatre was concerned with tragedy, which depicted the downfall of great men and women. The Greeks also showed lewd comedy that was so zesty and objective that it could be suppressed today. The Romans on the other hand, used and favored satire; the use of satire was by far an intelligent way of poking fun at the present tribulations and public figures.
Therefore, looking at ancient Greece, Greco Rome and medieval Europe; one sees a strong relationship between the three civilizations. The correlation between these civilizations can be attributed to Greece which was by far more civilized than Rome. Even so, after the fall of Greece, Rome ensured the survival of some of its cultural practices by adopting them. For instance, the Romans preserved the Greeks style of art by applying their ideas to create their own artistic expressions. In the same context, medieval Europe also ensured the survival of the Roman art by preserving it, after the fall of the Roman Empire.
Work Cited
Barlett, Brace. “ How Excessive Government Killed Ancient Rome.” The Cato 14 (1994): 15-18. Print.
Canter, Harrison. “ Conflagrations in Ancient Rome.” The Classical 27 (2010): 270-288. Print.
Hill, Rosemary. “ Early Medieval Survivors.” The Guardian 9 September 2011. Print.