Muzamil Mohib
Urban cultures mostly focus on the institutions, cities, and the social life and cultural aspects that are present in the cities. Urban cultures are very progressive and modernized, have left behind the ethnocentric ways of thinking, and have implemented the broad mode of thinking and acculturalization.
In this essay, Roman and Western Medieval culture will be compared in respect with their old heritage along with the changes that have taken place as time has passed. These cultures will also be discussed while looking at the importance of their past by looking at it from the vantage point of today’s perspective. The Hellenistic Age is the time mostly known for its transformation from localized and self centered state to an open and cosmopolitan society which promoted culture in all its forms and entirety in the eastern Mediterranean. The Hellenistic society was the center of commerce in the city of Alexandria, founded by Alexander the Great in the year 331 BCE. Alexander is known for his many
accomplishments in this world. Hellenistic culture let the other cultures such as Persian, Egyptians, and Greek to be preached while it still stayed as the most followed culture. Hellenistic art was more focused on the real rather than the old culture. It promoted all the cultures present in the eastern Mediterranean. Hellenistic culture promoted city building to improve communication and security for the city as well as to spread education and culture. It was also to improve long-distance trade to enhance the economy of Alexandria. They achieved control over the market and the trade centers. They gave their women rights to not be confined into their houses. Women could handle legal, financial
affairs, acquire education. The death of Alexander led to the slow fall of the Hellenistic culture. It slowly started to perish, as rebellions started to rise. Hellenistic culture witnessed a great depression, the kings of that time started confiscating estates from the Persian landowners in the name of ownership of the kingdom. They increased taxes and implemented a share solely for the king when profit was obtained in trade. This started a series of problems like unemployment, the decline in slavery, and people working
cheaper than the slaves. While the Hellenistic era was declining, the Roman Empire was gaining more and more land and expanding its culture. Roman culture is as old as 320 BC. Rome was the largest megalopolis of its time having the population which was more than one million. The increase in population had taken place as the Roman Empire had expanded and conquered more land, taking control of the Mediterranean. Roman Empire, as it conquered more lands, built forums, temples and their cultural centers to promote Roman culture. Roman culture was mostly known for its democratic administration, leading to the orderly organization of the whole empire. It was believed to be working
without a plan before its expansion, but as it expanded, the rectangular plan was adopted, organizing everything. The cities had built walls with zones on each side for defensive reas ns. They built Aqueducts to bring fresh water to urban centers and Cloaca Maxima, to take away the waste material away from the cities, into the sewage plants. Public baths were built, which also consisted of meeting rooms to have discussions. They built arenas, circuses, and theatres for entertainment. The main issue Roman cities faced was a supply of food, they had to acquire it, transport it, as well as distribute it in all the
cities of the empire. Grain was transported through ships to all the Roman cities through ‘Long- Distance Trade’. Roman Empire operated by a set structure which was why they were able to conquer most of the Mediterranean. While there were several projects that were expanding Roman trade, as well as culture, there were also some setbacks that caused problems. One of them was the administration issue. Roman Empire was very vast; hence, there were many communication problems that were in place because of late communication between cities. This led to a democratic structure being very hard
to implement. Another problem was the private fire department, owned by Crassus. He used his fire departments as a tool to extort and obtain real estate with negotiations at the time of the fire so that the value of the land decreases, leading to a low rate. There were also problems of slavery and the oppression of women by their men. This gradually changed as time passed as the Roman Empire started to collapse as there came a change in their religion. This led to a reduction in trade, taxes as well as city- based entertainment industries going under. Roman Empire may have fallen, but it still stands today as a
historical artifact. Hellenistic and Roman eras gave rise to the urban cultures with their city building and the creation of democratic administration to run the empire. They built structures that are still standing today, like the Colosseum which is one of the wonders of the world, Pantheon, the most renowned church of Europe. Even the systems built in those times are standing today. The Aqueducts and the Cloaca Maxima are still standing today as well as functioning. They emphasized their establishments, while de-emphasized their shortcoming. In today’s time, we remember these cultures mostly for their progress, not for their flaws. Hellenistic society’s Cosmo political views will be emphasized but their
enforced rules are concealed. Roman Empire’s accomplishment of conquering most of Europe will be emphasized but their rule on the oppression of female is concealed. Along with their building, and their infrastructure, today's urban culture owes a lot to the old Hellenistic as well as the Roman culture of the past. These old cultures were responsible for introducing many administrative as well as trading infrastructures to today's culture. Eastern Europe is strong in its ties with its heritage and its
history. To conclude, this discussion regarding these cultures, it can be said that today’s urban culture might not have progressed as much as it did if we did not have the legacy of these old urban cultures to look up to. Old cultures like Hellenistic and Roman have left behind a cultural legacy that survives even to this day.
