Final answer:
Americans favored Greek and Roman culture because of the Romans' admiration for Greek arts, philosophy, and education, which symbolized a desirable lifestyle. This influence was integral to the development of Western civilization, seen in America's architecture, political thought, and cultural foundations. Despite Roman self-attributed virtues distinct from Greek ideals, the combination of Greek influence and Roman order established a cultural bedrock that resonated with American values.
Step-by-step explanation:
Why Americans Favored Greek and Roman Culture
Americans looked favorably upon Greek and Roman culture for various reasons. The Romans greatly admired ancient Greek art, seeing it as a representation of an enviable lifestyle, which included leisure, the arts, luxury, and learning. This admiration persisted through Roman history, influencing their attitudes towards Greek philosophy, religion, and education systems. The emulation of Greek culture by prestigious figures like Emperors Augustus and Hadrian, along with the Romans' own pronounced virtues, contributed to a blend of Greco-Roman culture that later influenced American political and cultural development.
Greek influence on Roman society included the arts, where Romans developed a taste for Greek art after their wars in Greece, fostering an art movement that drove Greek artists to Rome. Roman writers and artists began adopting Greek aesthetic principles and created works in both Greek and Latin. This influence was foundational for what later became known as Western civilization, and it is through this lineage that America, as a part of Western civilization, derived its appreciation for Greek and Roman culture, seen in its architecture, political ideals, and even the naming of cities.
Despite inherent American admiration for Greek culture, the adoption of Greco-Roman culture was complex and encompassed elements of rivalry in which Roman virtues were expressly defined against Greek qualities. Further Roman conquest and cultural integration eventually defined what was to be the foundation of Western civilization, which included language, culture, governance, and the arts, deeply intertwining with what we classify as American.