The concept of religion within ancient Greece was marginally different than other countries and how it is perceived in today’s world. As a result of the relationship that Greeks had with the concept of religion and philosophy viewed it, a large portion of the everyday occurrences of Greek life was affected by the principles of these ideas and the nature of their existence. In general, Greeks didn’t have a formally accepted, overarching form of religion. The idea of personal religious affiliation was one which was largely accepted but there wasn’t a predominant nature in accepted theological thought. Philosophical thinkers often developed ideas and concepts regarding religion that acted independently and helped to cultivate the general thought process within the country.
The effects of religion on ancient Greece can be seen as prominent, though, as many of the ractices and ideas that were spread throughout Greece centered upon religious thought of some kind. Furthermore, many of the traditions which developed were largely influenced by religion and philosophy. For instance, the Olympic Games, a seminal part of Greek tradition and economy, were held in the original celebration of Zeus and the deities that the Greeks acclaimed. The effect on the general festivities that occurred in ancient Greece were largely built upon the ideas that were established and the nature of morality as the Greeks viewed it. There was an emphasis on the idea of moderation but the concepts of drinking and sexual activity were considered normal and welcome when held in moderation.

In a large sense, the idea of philosophy helped to establish much of the Greeks’ political and ethical systems. Thinkers such as Aristotle became prominent figures in literary and philosophical thought and the Greeks had a well-constructed system of ethics which was developed by thinkers sucha as Aristotle. The ethical decisions that these individuals created largely affected the way that business and politics were handled, which in turn affected the general concepts that the society and businesses within Greece adhered to. Furthermore, the idea of intellectual cultivation was something which was propagated in the philosophical circles within ancient Greece, so studies within science and the humanities often flourished as a result. Scientists in this era were able to make many pivotal contributions and developments, especially in fields such as anatomy and astronomy.

Strengths and Weaknesses of Roman Republic
The Roman Republic is often regarded as the catalysts for democratic thought on the global scale and was structured in a way which afforded the Romans many strengths and also many weaknesses. One of the more prominent strengths that the Romans experienced in terms of the democratic system in place was the overall strength and presence of their military power. The strategy employed by the Romans during this time was virtually second to none. The strength of the Roman government encouraged a large amount of loyalty to the state within the soldiers and leaders of the military. Their strengths were largely placed within their ability to develop and learn militaristic practices from allies and enemies alike. The administration of the Roman republic was also strong, especially in areas involving the construction of stronger infrastructure such as the development of roads and means of communication.

Yet, despite many of these strengths, Rome developed the capacity to cripple itself through internal problems which arose as a result of the way that the republic was devised. There was too much power given to the Senate and because of this, there was little that could be accomplished without the active involvement of the Senate. The Senate was also subject to much corruption and in turn the betterment of the state was often set aside by the political aspirations of individual senators and leaders. This in turn often caused controversial and chaotic reigns and stifled many of the leaders’ attempts to develop a more centralized, unified government. Given the instability and corrupt nature of the Senate in Rome, the entirety of the political system was rife with ineffectual leaders and partisan issues which hampered their ability to perform. As a result of this, the Republic was weak internally which allowed Julius Caesar to rise to power by allying himself with Pompey, a powerful general and Crassus, a wealthy dignitary and politician. Using the assets that these two had, Caesar positioned himself as a “consul,” aiding with endeavors in the political system until he was eventually able to take the Republic, forming the empire which Rome came to be.