There were many different cultures in the ancient world, but the two that had the most influence on European and Amer ican civilizations were the Greek and the Roman. Often these two cul tures are lumped together in our minds， as if they were really exactly alike. But that is not the case. In many ways the Greeks and the Romans could not have been more different. .

The Greeks were truly democratic, often without a single leader but instead governed by a group of men chosen by the people. The Romans were semi- democratic. They had a governing Senate，but the political power was mostly or completely in the hands of a single emperor.

Both cultures were great builders. But the construction .

interests of the two cultures were also different. The Greeks tended to be more artistic. Their buildings were well constructed and they were especially interested in temples， columns， and decorative forms.

The Romans, on the other hand, were more engineers than artists. They concentrated their efforts on urban planning， well- functioning water pipes，and the best roads.

Only in cooking and eating habits are the two cultures really similar. Both peoples ate very well indeed: lots of fish, fresh vegetables and fruits， healthy meals， holding at the same time long di scussions and tasting excellent wines.

In fact， it would probably be fair to say that they both loved life in their warm, sea-oriented climates and they both lived a full life.