Roman and Greek culture

First, the direct influence of Rome on Greek thought

This starts with two people in the second century BC, namely, the historian Polibbi Wu and the Stoic philosopher Panitius. The natural attitude of the Greeks towards the Romans is a contempt mixed with fear; The Greeks thought they were more civilized, but they were politically weak. If the Romans are more successful in politics, it can only show that politics is a disgraceful industry. In the second century BC, ordinary Greeks were addicted to pleasure and had quick thinking. They are good at business and are not afraid of anything. However, there are also some people who have philosophical ability. Some of them-especially skeptics, such as Kahn Yade-let intelligence destroy seriousness. Some people, such as Epicurus or some Stoics, completely retreat into a quiet personal life. However, there are a few people who have a deeper vision of Alexander than Aristotle. They realized that the greatness of Rome was due to some advantages that the Greeks lacked.

Historian Bolibiuyo was born in Agadia in 200 BC. He was sent to Rome as a prisoner, but after arriving in Rome, he was lucky enough to be a friend of little Sepio, who accompanied him on many expeditions. Although most educated Romans know Greek, few Greeks know Latin; However, what happened to Bolibiu made him proficient in Latin. He wrote the history of Punic War to teach the Greeks, because Punic War made Rome conquer the whole world. When he wrote, his praise of the Roman system was out of date; But before his time, the Roman system was more stable and efficient than the ever-changing system of most Greek city-States. The Romans naturally enjoyed reading his history; However, people doubt whether the Greeks are like this.

Panitius was a Stoic, a friend of Polly Tibio, and like Polly Tibio, a disciple of Little Seppio. Sepio visited Rome many times during his lifetime, but after Sepio died in 129 BC, he stayed in Athens and became the leader of the Stoic school. Rome is still full of hope for Greece's lost opportunities for political activities. Therefore, Panitius' theory is more political than the early Stoic theory, and less similar to the cynic theory. Perhaps the admiration of educated Romans for Plato influenced him and made him give up the dogmatism of his Stoic predecessors. Therefore, the Stoics strongly touched the more serious Romans with the broader forms endowed by him and his successor Possidoni.

Although epiktetos was Greek, he lived in Rome for most of his life. Rome provided him with most examples; He often advises wise men not to tremble before the emperor. Do we know about epiktetos versus Malcus? Aurelius's influence, but his influence on the Greeks is difficult to explore.

Plutarch (about 46- 120) traced the moral development of most outstanding figures in the two countries in his book Who's Who in Greece and Rome. He stayed in Rome for quite a long time and was respected by two emperors Hadrian and Trajan. In addition to his Who's Who, he has written countless works about philosophy, religion, morality and natural history. His Who's Who obviously tries to reconcile Greece and Rome in people's minds.

Generally speaking, apart from the above exceptions, Rome only played a destructive role in the Greek part of the empire. Thought and art have declined. Until the end of the second century, people with well-off families lived happily and comfortably; No stimulation makes people nervous, and there are not many opportunities for people to achieve great things. The recognized schools of philosophy ―― Platonism, Minstrel, Epicurus and Stoicism ―― existed until 529 AD and were closed by Justinian the Great (due to the stubbornness of Christianity). However, these schools, since Malcus? Since the time of Aurelius, no school has shown any life except the neo-Platonism in the third century A.D. (this school, which we will talk about in the next chapter); These people were hardly influenced by Rome. The two parts of the empire, Latin and Greece, increasingly parted ways; Greek knowledge has become a rarity in the western half, while Latin only exists in the law and army since Constantine in the eastern half.

Ⅱ. The influence of Greece and the East on Rome

There are two completely different things to consider here: the first is the influence of Greek art, literature and philosophy on the most educated Romans; The second is the spread of non-Greek religions and superstitions throughout the western world.

(1) When the Romans first came into contact with the Greeks, they realized that the Greeks were quite savage and rude. The Greeks are much superior to them in many aspects: in handicraft industry, in agricultural technology; All kinds of knowledge necessary for an excellent official; In the art of talking and enjoying life; In all aspects of art, literature and philosophy. The only thing the Romans were superior to was military technology and social unity. This relationship between Romans and Greeks is very similar to that between Prussians and French in 18 14 and 18 15. But the latter example was only temporary, while the former lasted for a long time. After the Punic War, the young Romans had an admiration for the Greeks. They learn Greek, imitate Greek architecture and hire Greek sculptors. Many Roman gods were also equated with Greek gods. The idea that the Romans originated in Troy is associated with Homer's legend. Latin poets adopt Greek rhythms, while Latin philosophers accept Greek theories. Finally, Rome became a cultural parasite of Greece. The Romans did not create any art form, formed any original philosophical system or made any scientific inventions. They built good roads, systematic laws and regulations and an efficient army. But beyond that, they are second only to Greece.

The Hellenization of Rome caused a certain degree of softness in fashion, which old Cato hated. Before the Punic War, the Romans were always an agricultural and pastoral people, possessing all the virtues and shortcomings of farmers: earnest, hardworking, vulgar, stubborn and ignorant. Their family life has always been stable and solid, based on patriapotestas (patriarchy); Women and youth are completely subordinate. But all this changed with the sudden influx of wealth. Small fields disappeared and were gradually replaced by large manors that used slave labor and implemented new scientific agricultural methods. A powerful merchant class emerged, and many people became rich because of plunder, just like those nabob (1) in Britain in the18th century. Women have always been slaves with good virtue, and now they are free and dissolute; Divorce has become a common thing; The rich no longer have children. The Greeks experienced the same development centuries ago. They encouraged what historians call moral corruption with their precedents. But even in the most dissolute era of the Roman Empire, ordinary Romans still regarded Rome as the mainstay, held high more pure ethical norms and fought against corruption in Greece.

The cultural influence of Greece on the Western Roman Empire began to weaken rapidly in the third century, mainly due to the decline of the whole culture. There are many reasons, but one reason must be mentioned in particular. At the end of the Western Roman Empire, the government became more and more naked military dictatorship than before. Usually, the army always elects a successful general as emperor; But the army, including its top officers, is not made up of educated Romans, but of semi-barbarians on the border. These rude soldiers do not need culture. They only regard civilized citizens as the source of tax revenue. Private people are too poor to receive much education, and the state thinks education is unnecessary. Therefore, only a few particularly knowledgeable people in the west can read Greek.

(2) On the other hand, non-Greek religions and superstitions have gained an increasingly strong foothold in the West. We have seen how Alexander's conquest introduced the beliefs of Babylonians, Persians and Egyptians into the Greek world. Similarly, the conquest of Rome familiarized the western world with these teachings and the teachings of Judaism and Christianity. I will talk about Jews and Christians later. At present, I only limit myself to pagan superstitions.

In Rome, every Sect and every prophet has its representatives in the highest ruling faction, and sometimes it is supported by them. Although Luan was in an era of reckless faith, he represented a firm skepticism. He told an interesting story about a prophet and a miracle worker, Alexander of Pavlagonia, which is generally recognized as true. This man saves lives, predicts the future and cheats everywhere. His fame spread to Malcus, who was fighting Magney on the Danube? Ole left the ear. The emperor asked him how to win the war; The answer is that if he throws two lions into the Danube, he will win a great victory. He followed the Oracle's advice, but it was Magney who won the great victory. Despite this mistake, Alexander's fame continued to grow. The famous Roman consul Rutilianu once asked him many questions and finally asked him how to choose a wife. Alexander, like Andy miriam (2), once won Luna's favor and gave birth to a daughter with her. The Oracle recommended his daughter to Rutilianu. At this time of ldquo, Rutilianu was sixty years old, and he immediately obeyed God's command. When celebrating her wedding, she sacrificed a whole hundred cows to his mother-in-law in heaven. Rdquo(3) is more important than the deeds of Alexander (a Pavlaguna) is the throne of the emperor Elogabaru or the famous Helio Gabarrou (AD 2 18-222); The emperor was a priest of the Syrian sun god before he was elected to the throne by the army. During his slow journey from Syria to Rome, his portrait was sent to the Senate as a gift for the first time. Ldquo He is depicted wearing a priest's robe woven with silk and gold thread according to the widely hung patterns of Medes and Phoenicians, wearing a towering crown in ancient Persian style and countless collars and sleeves on his head.