Politics

• Ancient Greece had no central authority. Every Greek city-state remained a self-contained unit, separated by geography. Rome, by contrast, became the central authority for the Roman Empire. Wars sometimes were fought between the ancient Greek city-states, whereas Rome sought conquest beyond the borders of its empire.
  
  

Humanities

• The ancient Greeks were innovators in the humanities. They invented philosophy and science, and they prided themselves on sophistication in the arts. The Romans, by contrast, were known for their military and engineering skills, but they borrowed heavily from Greek culture for their philosophical, spiritual and artistic life.
  
  

Women's Rights

• In most of the city-states of ancient Greece, women weren't allowed to own land, vote or enter into contracts. For most activities, they needed the permission of their husbands or their male guardians. In Rome, however, women were freer to move about and make decisions on their own, and during the time of the Roman Empire, they enjoyed the rights to work, and own and inherit property.