... Therefore, under the Roman system, cities answered to a central government that was chosen by the citizens. The fact that Romans had to elect senators gave citizens the need for a unified and participant society. The Roman war strategies were also more unified than the Greek strategies, thus, ensuring their success. Aside from these physical differences, there is a difference in the goals between the Greeks and the Romans. In the first case what concerns the Greek city-states is limited to self-preservation if not individual fame and success. The Romans, on the other hand, were concerned with the success of the country as a whole; they knew that if the whole was successful, then the individual parts would also benefit. In the same way that Greek society valued rugged individualism rather than the Roman sense of community, so did Achilles and Odysseus values differ from those of Aeneas'. The Homeric heroes had more self-centered values and their goals were less weighty than Aeneas'. The individualism of Achilles and Odysseus is apparent primarily in their battle scenes. While Achilles and Odysseus are depicted fighting by themselves or doing most of the work, like Achilles' Aristaia or Odysseus' homecoming, Aeneas is depicted fighting with a small, close-knit group of soldiers. Another proof of how Aeneas is more communal than the Homeric heroes is Aeneas' first speech to his troops "Friends and companions, have we not know hard hours before this? My men, who have endured still greater dangers, god will grant us an end to these as well." (1.270-273). Aeneas is careful to address his troops in such a way that it does not set him aloof from his men, he says that his men have endured dangers, not that he has endured them, this takes away from his personal glory but serves the greater good. Aeneas lets his men know that he depends on his men more than they depend on him and that it is by the gods' graces that they are delivered, not by his own prowess. ...
