A comparison of Ancient Rome and Pre WW1 United States Title: The Roman Empire and the Early United States A comparison
The purpose of this paper is to show the comparison between remarkable empires that were created in many years apart. I chose to compare Pre-World War I United States and the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire information is said to be recorded between 753BC – 1184 BC (ThinkQuest) and the Pre World War I information is between late 19th century and early 20th century (Encarta). Included in this paper will be in information comparing: Government, Economy, Military, and Religion.
GOVERNMENT
The Roman Empire had 3 different types of government during this period. During the 1st period Rome was controlled by a King,
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This to was a major resource for the United States, although the manufacturing was in place that created a vast majority of goods for its people. The means of payment were similar also. The Roman Empire used silver, gold and bronze coins as a means of payment for goods. This system also existed in the United States. The Romans had also built roads and ships in order to transport the goods for trading; this practice was also exercised in early America. As both the Roman Empire and the United States progressed each society had a surge of “big business”. In the Roman Empire military was increasing and many of the smaller farmers where forced to sell out their land to larger farmers due to increased taxes. In comparison the United States was currently catering to all big business in order to create a manufacturing powerhouse. This had changed the style of the 1800’s into production and factories. Many people who were once skilled craftsman where forced to work in factory jobs and working long hours in hazardous conditions. Both these empires where growing in such force that it had consequently destroyed or forced change upon current residence and higher taxes where in force as well.
MILITARY
The Roman Empire and the United States both had well developed protective forces in place. The Roman Army consisted of many different units performing a variety of functions. Coincidently the United States had a similar military in place as well.
Rome was at the peak of their time. They had powerful armies and constantly won wars, so Romans became lazy and neglected their daily drills and armor such as helmets and breastplates because they thought it was unnecessary (Document B). According to Document B it states, “...the customary armor began to seem heavy since the soldiers rarely wore it.” Overconfident, the soldiers were unprotected during times of war leaving Rome with little defense. Also, people such as clergymen, senators, bureaucrats, cooks, chefs, and slaves were exempted from joining the army, leaving a small group of people to defend their empire from foreign invaders (Document
The Roman Empire is still known today as one of history’s most powerful period. Rome government had stick rules and policies. The Roman government at this point was known as the Roman Republic. The Roman Republic was controlled by the roar Rome. Bureaucracy was ran throughout the region, but Rome did not want this nor could they afford it. However, they did allow small cities to run a lower level of government. The exercise of indirect rule thus became a basic principle of imperial government. The business of local administration and jurisdiction was delegated to the existing communities of city or tribe. This type of structure was deemed to be a weakness to some historians because of the consequences. Consequences that allow a third level government to enforce the emperor’s rules. Because of the expansion of the territory, this was the only reasonable way for it to function normally. The empire was a "commonwealth of cities" which acted as economic and cultural of the Roman world and were integrated into the administrative system as local foci of government. This imperial ruling was first implemented by Rome. It came about because of social trends and not the Roman strategic policies that was often changed by Romanized upper class citizens. These upper classman brought about firmness throughout the land with their strategic and educated planning.
2. In thinking about the similarities and differences among the empires of the early modern era, what categories of comparison might be most useful to consider? Why?
The Roman Republic military was one of the first well-organized military of all time. Because of this, most succeeding militaries follow their example by adopting and adapting some of the same characteristics. The Roman and U.S. military are from different eras, but still share similar characteristics as well as vast modernized differences that have established the U.S. military as efficient and organized.
Both civilizations had very strong central governments which allowed for powerful and expanding kingdoms. Both empires had to develop road systems for their expanding military. The Roman army men were experienced and privileged and held high ranks in their class system and played an important role,
The civilization of the Roman Republic and the Empire that followed it was the first of its kind. Earlier civilizations had been based on a more abstract worldview that led humans to be creative for the will of the gods or to preserve the institutions that fostered rational thought. Rome started as a simple, self-reliant nation made up of farmers who lived the best they could to support their families and community. With an intense drive to succeed and its advanced military, Rome became the greatest civilization of its time. The civilization of 21st century America can follow its roots two thousand years back to Rome.
Some examples of these would include The Battering Ram, The Turris, and The Ballista. The Roman army was also very willing to incorporate the war tactics and the weapons of their defeated enemies if they were deemed beneficial. (Alchin) These improvements provided the Roman army advantages in battle. The Roman generals that were picked to lead the army were highly skilled in the art of war. They were masters of attack and counterattacks, the use of mounted and unmounted calvary as well as archery. As a result of the Roman army's successful tactics, Rome therefore was able to achieve massive amounts of territory and assemble a substantial empire. (Cavazzi)
In the later half of the fourth century the Western Roman Empire fell after nearly a five hundred years of dominance and is still widely considered the world’s greatest superpower (Andrews). Many people attribute the crumbling of the empire to multiple different reasons, like corrupt and insane leaders to overspending and inflation. As J.B Bury said once “the fall of the roman empire was a series of contingent events. In this paper we are going to cover the three main reasons. Political and Economical problems plus problems with the military(Wood).
Have you ever thought that the U.S. government is easily comparable to the Roman's version of government? Maybe that's because the U.S. government is roughly parallel with the Ancient Roman Government. The Romans did not have a constitution, like us Americans, but their division of executive, legislative, and judicial branches is similar. The Roman government served as a template for the American government. As you read further, you will see how the governmental structures, with detail, are similar by first making points on the American style contrasted with the Roman style of government.
Historically, the civilization with the most powerful army dominates the world. It is also common for the most advanced technology to be developed and applied by the military before being put to use to aid the people. One of the main reasons Rome was able to dominate for over a thousand years was because they were on the leading edge of science and technology. The Romans were expert military and civil engineers, among their accomplishments included creating better quality metal, bridge-building, ballistic weapons, elevated and underground aqueducts, the use of arches and domes, and the invention of concrete. Their roman short sword killed more people than any other weapon until the machine gun was developed in WWI(3). This is similar to the Americans who have led the way in the 20th century in military advancement, from the splitting of the atom to advancement in aircraft, military power has allowed its country to both protect themselves and expand economically and socially.
Empires on their outside may seem very different and unique. However, when you get down to their fundamentals, you begin to truly realize how similar they are. Just as the imposing pine tree and humble tomato plant may seem vastly different, their start from a lowly seed and craving for water and sunlight to survive unifies them. Such is also true with the Han and Roman empires. While key differences may be present, their social structures, influencing religions, and causes of collapse unify them.
They had many things that we as Americans utilize in our current culture. Many of the main Roman influences include government, art, entertainment, and construction.
The foundations of an ancient empire are shaped by many characteristics originating in a civilization’s social, philosophical, and theological values. Collectively these will bring about an empire that has aspects which will classify them in distinctive ways. The aspects that will be compared between Persia and Rome are the motives for expansion, methods of expansion, the administration, the impact on those conquered and the original empire, and the reasons for the decline of each empire. When combined, these aspects predispose the individual overall shape of ancient Rome and Persia. Both empires began with conquering larger rulers and creating vast empires which had never been seen
As the series Game of Thrones starts a new season, illustrating a bloody scenario of Kings and Queens contesting for total control of lands and supremacy, we may be reminded that such a fiction was a reality in past history– minus the dragons and the walking dead of course. As history progresses in time, empires rise and fall. Historians look back on once strong empires and are divided, concerning if the damage they caused and slaughter they wrought was worth the advances they gave to the world. When comparing once powerful empires like the British and Roman Empire, one clearly rises above all in terms of all-out strength and domination, but the way they become powerful is similar. Governments that hold true power seem to be reflected on the most. Both the British and Roman Empire reigned with significant authority and yielded to defeat or declinism; however, the Roman Empire stands superior not only for its lengthy rule, but for its everlasting influence over others, and its expansion of citizenship.
The Roman Empire was made up of provinces. These were the basic units of land in ancient Rome. Each province had a governor. The Roman Empire had two types of