There were many different cultures in the ancient world, but the two that had the most influence on
European and American civilization were the ancient Greeks and the ancient Romans. Often these two
cultures and their ways of living are thought of as if the two were really exactly alike. However, that is
not the case. When their buildings, literary art and eating habits are examined, it can be seen that they
had not only similarities but also some differences.
Ancient Greek culture has left behind excellent examples of their constructions, art, and food. The
Greeks were great builders and had many well-constructed and long-lasting buildings. Thousands of
tourists today admire Greek ruins such as the ones in Athens. They make special trips to visit the
towns of the ancient world including Ephesus and Pergamum. As the Greeks’ construction methods
tended to be artistic, they were especially interested in building temples and columns. Moreover, it is
fair to say that their artistic talent could be seen in literary arts. Greek literature was the result of an
oral tradition, handed down from generation to generation. They mostly wrote about their wars,
heroes, and gods. The Greeks also loved poetry, especially long poems again about their wars and
heroes. As for the theatre, they favored tragedy, which showed the fall of great men and women. The
eating habits of the Greeks were also refined. They looked after themselves and ate healthy food such
as plenty of fish, fresh vegetables and fruits. During these meals, they enjoyed excellent wines and had
long discussions about daily events.
The details of ancient Roman culture show a slightly different picture. The Romans were more
engineers than artists. They were great builders too, but they...