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Roman Vs Greek Gov’t Essay, Research Paper
Ancient Governments:
A comparison of ancient Greek democracy and Roman republic
Even today, the ideals of government expressed and used by the ancient Greeks and Romans are
well known. Although the Greek democracy and the Roman republic have many resemblances
they also have many differences. Ancient Greek democracy and the ancient Roman republic may
seem the same but they are actually both similar and different in three significant ways: how the
system of a democracy and a republic work, how each government elected their officials, and
how the hierarchy of each system was oriented.
First, democracies and republics are alike and unlike in the way that their general system works.
Both systems give their power to the people. A republic is a form of state based on the concept
that sovereignty resides in the people ( Republic 1). A democracy is a political system in which
the people of a country rule ( Democracy 1). Additionally, both systems elect representatives. In
both republics and democracies, power is given to representatives/officials ( Republic 1/
Democracy 1). However, in a republic, elected representatives are expected to act on their own
best judgment of the needs and interests of the country. In a democracy, the representatives more
generally and directly reflect the known or ascertained views of their constituents, sometimes
subordinating their own judgment. ( Democracy 1). In conclusion, the systems of republics and
democracies are similar yet different.
Second, ancient Greek democracies and ancient Roman republics method of electing officials
have both similarities and differences. Both ancient Greece (Athens) and Rome had citizens vote
on who to elect to be an official. However, each culture s idea of a citizen was different. Greece
only gave citizenship to native-born male Greeks; foreigners, women and slaves could not be
citizens. However, Rome gave half-citizenship to other peoples in Italy giving them full legal
rights but no the right to vote ( Citizen 1). In addition, people who were elected were mostly
middle- to upper-class individuals. Greece only elected citizens and Rome only elected
patricians, the rich 10% of Rome s population (At first, however, plebeians the lower 90% of
Rome s population fought for rights which included the right to hold office later). Furthermore,
Greece elected officials by randomly selecting citizens (Krieger, Neill, Reynolds 111-2) whereas
Rome s citizens chose who to elect ( The Roman Government 1). In conclusion, the way that
Greece and Rome elected officials also had both similarities and differences.
Finally, the hierarchy of ancient Greece s democracy and ancient Rome s republic had likenesses
and discrepancies. First of all, Greece did not elect representatives. Representative democracy
was not used because the population was small enough to use a direct democracy, where citizens
directly participated with politics ( Citizen 1). On the other hand, Rome did use a representative
democracy. Rome elected two consuls to be heads of state. These consuls had one-year terms
and also could veto each other s actions. ( The Roman Government 1). Below the consuls was
the Senate which consisted of 300 men who were originally patricians but later could be
plebeians. Alternatively, Greece elected citizens to be on the Athenian assembly which made
laws, and also the Council of Five Hundred which proposed laws and advised the Assembly. The
hierarchies of Rome s republic and Greece s democracy have similarities but they also contrast
(Krieger, Neill, Reynolds 111).
It is evident that although ancient Greek democracy and the ancient Roman republic may seem
the same, they are actually both similar and different in many ways, including the way the
general system works, the method that officials are elected, and the hierarchy of each system.
The words democracy and republic are considered synonyms, but in truth are different in many
ways ( Democracy 1).
Works Cited
1. Citizen . Microsoft Encarta 98 Encyclopedia. 1998 ed.
2. Democracy Democracy in Ancient Greece and Rome . Microsoft Encarta 98 Encyclopedia.
1998 ed.
3. Krieger, Larry S.; Neill, Kenneth; Reynolds, Dr. Edward; World History: Perspectives on the
Past. Evanston, Illinois: McDougal Littell. 1997.
4. Authors unknown; The Roman Government.
http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/OakViewES/harris/96-97/agespages/rome/government-rome.html
November 20, 2000.
5. Republic . Microsoft Encarta 98 Encyclopedia. 1998 ed.