Decision Making
Similarities: Greeks used many different forms of government. Currently, two of the Greek systems of government in use today are monarchies and democracies. Greeks were the first civilization to form a democracy, and were pioneers for giving the people more power. An example of a monarchy is in the UK, with Queen Elizabeth.
Differences: Democracies are the most widely used type of government in the modern day. However, the democracy we know today is not the same as the one the Greek’s used. Greeks gave women, children, slaves, and all those not in the Upper Class, but nowadays everybody has the right to vote. Oligarchies and Tyrannies are not forms of government used today.
Power Distribution and Men and Women's Rights
Similarities: Today we have some unwritten classes, depending on how much money you have- the Upper Class (rich) Middle Class, and lower class. Feminists could argue that we still have a slightly demeaning role of women, because men are given more of a responsibility than women and have a more dominant role in society. For example, in New Zealand, only 19.6% of women were Chief Executives out of all the CEOS in the country.
Differences: Today, we do have classes, but they are not quite as extreme. For example, people in the lower working class still can vote. We don’t have any form of slaves or servants. The discrimination between classes present in Greek civilisation does not exist today, because governments support those in need in the lower class. Everybody, in theory, is treated equally. Men and women were treated very differently in ancient Greek times than they are today. Women are now allowed to leave the house, work, and sometimes they are the main earners of the family. Women are very independent today, and do not obey their husbands in the oppressing way that the Greeks did. Marriage nowadays is more of a romantic affair, rather than the “transaction” that the Greeks practiced, and women can choose who they want to marry rather than being forced into it. Women can now go wherever they chose, to public events, and participate in politics. In fact, there have been many female prime ministers over time.
Education of Children
Similarities: Although there were many differences between Greek schools and today’s schools, the subjects taught were actually very similar. Science and maths are both taught today, as well as learning music and debating skills, in subjects like English and Humanities. Although not official education, girls are sometimes taught by their mothers how to cook, sew, and run a household.
Differences: Only boys went to school in Ancient Greece, and only those in the Upper Class. There were no public schools in Ancient Greece, so parents had to pay the teacher. Poor people and slaves could not send their children to school. Children start school now at 5 and finish at 17, whereas Greek kids began to attend school at 7 years old and only completed their education when they were 20. Another difference is that it is not compulsory to attend military school nowadays, and we don’t have a city devoted to training soldiers. Girls and boys both attend schools, and there are now government funded schools, as well as private schools, so that everybody can get an education. Military school was also very different in Ancient Greek days, than the format we know today. Students were beaten, and put through brutal training, rather than the more reserved military school we know today.
Similarities: Greeks used many different forms of government. Currently, two of the Greek systems of government in use today are monarchies and democracies. Greeks were the first civilization to form a democracy, and were pioneers for giving the people more power. An example of a monarchy is in the UK, with Queen Elizabeth.
Differences: Democracies are the most widely used type of government in the modern day. However, the democracy we know today is not the same as the one the Greek’s used. Greeks gave women, children, slaves, and all those not in the Upper Class, but nowadays everybody has the right to vote. Oligarchies and Tyrannies are not forms of government used today.
Power Distribution and Men and Women's Rights
Similarities: Today we have some unwritten classes, depending on how much money you have- the Upper Class (rich) Middle Class, and lower class. Feminists could argue that we still have a slightly demeaning role of women, because men are given more of a responsibility than women and have a more dominant role in society. For example, in New Zealand, only 19.6% of women were Chief Executives out of all the CEOS in the country.
Differences: Today, we do have classes, but they are not quite as extreme. For example, people in the lower working class still can vote. We don’t have any form of slaves or servants. The discrimination between classes present in Greek civilisation does not exist today, because governments support those in need in the lower class. Everybody, in theory, is treated equally. Men and women were treated very differently in ancient Greek times than they are today. Women are now allowed to leave the house, work, and sometimes they are the main earners of the family. Women are very independent today, and do not obey their husbands in the oppressing way that the Greeks did. Marriage nowadays is more of a romantic affair, rather than the “transaction” that the Greeks practiced, and women can choose who they want to marry rather than being forced into it. Women can now go wherever they chose, to public events, and participate in politics. In fact, there have been many female prime ministers over time.
Education of Children
Similarities: Although there were many differences between Greek schools and today’s schools, the subjects taught were actually very similar. Science and maths are both taught today, as well as learning music and debating skills, in subjects like English and Humanities. Although not official education, girls are sometimes taught by their mothers how to cook, sew, and run a household.
Differences: Only boys went to school in Ancient Greece, and only those in the Upper Class. There were no public schools in Ancient Greece, so parents had to pay the teacher. Poor people and slaves could not send their children to school. Children start school now at 5 and finish at 17, whereas Greek kids began to attend school at 7 years old and only completed their education when they were 20. Another difference is that it is not compulsory to attend military school nowadays, and we don’t have a city devoted to training soldiers. Girls and boys both attend schools, and there are now government funded schools, as well as private schools, so that everybody can get an education. Military school was also very different in Ancient Greek days, than the format we know today. Students were beaten, and put through brutal training, rather than the more reserved military school we know today.