Category: News & Opinion
Tags: ancient rome, modern-day America
Teaser: Noticeable parallels exist between America and ancient Rome. But are these parallels enough to cripple a modern nation?
It’s hard not to compare modern America with ancient Rome — the similarities are many. Just like America, the ancient Roman Empire was extremely powerful economically, politically, culturally and militarily. But just like ancient Rome is America destined to fall?
Staggering cost of elections, with questionable funding sources
Let’s begin with an issue that remains at the “financial” heart of today’s U.S. election — funding. Back in 2012 the election reportedly cost $3 billion. Similar to Roman elections …show more content…
Rome often criticized the people beyond its borders, and generally underestimated their capabilities. While America is far more complicated than Rome, the American attitude, although more idealistic and well meaning, is strikingly similar.
Similarity in Borders
The study of ancient Rome’s frontiers show that the empire was much like the U.S., a border of with continual interaction, somewhat worrying at times, but normally peaceful and mutually beneficial. You can’t help but compare the zones surrounding the powerful Roman civilization to those between U.S and Mexico.
Both have cultural similarities
There are many cultural similarities between ancient Rome and America today. When it comes to laws, lawyers and lawsuits, just like the ancient Romans, Americans can’t seem get enough. In addition, Americans love to humiliate public figure through comedy and satire — just turn on late night TV.
But there is so much more. Both Rome and America struggled with slavery. In fact, an exhibit at The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia llustrated the struggle with slavery that Rome and America both faced, presenting writings from America’s ancestors that examined the comparisons between Rome and America that they made when laying the groundwork for our