What is The True Mark of a Sustainable Civilization? By Michael Edwards During the flourishing Hellenistic period of the Greeks, a new civilization emerged. The Romans began as a similar state to Greece, but over time proved to be more successful than their predecessors. The Romans utilized brutal militarism combined with civic virtue to make for a strong society. They sustained their society through expansion and the capturing of slaves and created a society based on Greek culture that managed to survive for over ten centuries. The Romans created better conditions for living and built a lasting civilization that the Greeks could not. Ultimately, Rome's government, military, expansion, and architectural advancements created a civilization …show more content…
The Centuriate Assembly served as a judicial branch, voting on consuls and acting as a court of appeal in legal cases involving the death penalty. Under the consuls was the Senate, a large group of administrators who managed state finances. In ancient history, money equaled authority and Roman farmers were made rich (and therefore, powerful) when they participated in the military, making them able to participate in government as well. Arguably the biggest strength in Roman history is its military. The Roman military was composed of citizen-soldiers. Farmers volunteered to fight for Rome in hopes of being rewarded with loot from defeated enemies. Citizens were motivated by the possibility of becoming very rich if they participated in a particularly successful campaign. Julius Caesar was a great example of the brutal militarism practiced in Rome. Caesar was merciless, slaughtering villages and enslaving thousands of Celts in 50 BCE before invading England and establishing territory there that lasted centuries. Finance and military are two reasons that Rome was successful and their success lasted for centuries. The Romans were able to sustain their civilization partly by their drive to expand. In Roman society,