As the Greek and Roman empires expanded enormously across the Western world, new ideas changed the way Mediterranean society ran things, which spread across the world. "The rise of the series of city-states in Classical Greece began in the 9th century BCE, and by the end of the 6th century BCE the development of Rome as a republic began with the decline of the society Etruscan” (Bentley et al, 2008 p.132, 145). The development of these empires promoted cultural circulation, mixing the culture of the two empires with the conquered lands. As Greece and Rome gained more territory within Mediterranean society, they began to progress toward a more civilized human order. How were they the same? How were they different? How have they each influenced the Western world? These questions involve the relationships between social orders within Greco-Roman civilization. Although ancient Greece and Rome can be compared in many ways, I will discuss Mediterranean society under the influence of the Greeks and Romans. Similarities Between the Greeks and Romans One of the things that the Greeks and Romans had in common was trade and integration. Bentley et al (2008) note that “Greek products, such as olive oil and wine, were traded around the Mediterranean for a raw material: cereals. By the early 8th century BCE, Greek trade enjoyed substantial prosperity” (p 139). Furthermore, the Greeks established a vast colonial network on the Mediterranean coast, which inspired social relations in distant lands. In comparison, throughout the Roman Empire... "[their settlement traded] and became a center for the production of pottery, glassware, and bronze objects. Since Roman land and sea trade routes encouraged commerce from Greek and Roman religion, Roman religion seems to be more practical than Greek religion For example, Greek religion deals with religious cults while Roman religion (Christianity) deals with a savior who offers loving-kindness. to humanity Finally, in answer to the question of how the Greeks and Romans influenced the Western world Overall, the exposure of the Greeks and Romans to the cross-cultural frontier became the foundation of a. successful business and communications operation throughout the Western world and a magnet for social order Works Cited Bentley, J., Ziegler, H., and Streets, H. (2008). ed. New York: McGraw HillWGBH Educational Foundation (2010), accessed June 6, 2010 at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/portrait/religions.html