Ancient Greece

Ancient Rome

Location

Continent of Europe,

Mediterranean Sea

Continent of Europe,

Mediterranean Sea

Physical Characteristics

Mountains and hills,

limited rich soil

Next to a river, built on hills, limited rich soil

Human Characteristics

Farmers, traders, shipbuilders

Farmers, traders, and builders

(Road builders)

Cultural Characteristics

“Birthplace of Democracy,”

Direct Democracy,

Olympic Games,

Their architecture used columns (such as the Parthenon)

Had a republican form of government (also called representative democracy),

Their architecture used arches (such as the Colosseum and the aqueducts)

Ways They Adapted to Their Environment

Farmed on hillsides,

Had small independent communities called city-states,

Trading took place on the Mediterranean Sea

Farmed on hillsides,

Trading took place on the Mediterranean Sea

Economic Specialization

Building ships, farming, making pottery

Building ships, farming, making pottery

Economic Interdependence

Traded their goods with Egypt and other nearby communities

Traded their goods with Egypt and other nearby communities