As the Greek and Roman empires grew immensely throughout the Western world, new ideas changed the way Mediterranean society ran things, which spread throughout the world . “The rise of the Classical Greek series of city-states began in the 9th century BC and during the late 6th century BC, the development of Rome as a republic began with the decline of Etruscan society” (Bentley et al, 2008 p.132 , 145) . The development of these empires encouraged cultural circulation, merging the culture of the two empires in the conquered land. As Greece and Rome gained more territory within Mediterranean society, they began to progress towards a more civilized order of humanity. In what way were they similar? How were they different? How has each influenced the Western world? These questions imply the relationship between social orders in Greco-Roman civilization. Although both ancient Greece and Rome can be compared in many ways, I will discuss Mediterranean society under the influence of the Greeks and Romans. Similarities Between Greeks and Romans One of the things the Greeks and Romans had in common was trade and integration. Bentley et al (2008) note that “Greek goods, such as olive oil and wine, were traded across the Mediterranean for the raw material: wheat. At the beginning of the 8th century BC, Greek trade acquired considerable prosperity” (p 139). Furthermore, the Greeks established a widespread colonial network within the Mediterranean coast, which inspired social relations in distant lands. By comparison, throughout the Roman Empire…” [their facility traded] and became a center for the production of pottery, glassware, and bronze objects. Because Roman trade routes by land and sea encouraged trade from Greek and Roman religion, Roman religion appears to be more practical than Greek religion. For example, Greek religion deals with religious cults, while Roman religion (Christianity) deals with a savior, who offers loving-kindness to humanity. One final note, in response to the question of how the Greeks and Romans influenced the Western world. Overall, Greek and Roman exposure within the cross-cultural frontier became the foundation of a successful commercial and communications operation throughout the Western world and a magnet for social order. Works Cited Bentley, J., Ziegler, H., & Streets, H. (2008). Traditions and Encounters: A Brief Global History (3rd ed. New York: McGraw HillWGBH Educational Foundation (2010), Retrieved June 6, 2010, from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/ Portrait /religions.html