The Period from 600 BCE to 600 CE was a time of imperial expansion and consolidation. Two of the most powerful and prominent empires during this time period were the Roman Empire and Han China. While on opposite sides of the world, both experienced a common over-expansion of empires and states, coupled with accompanying instability in government and external threats by rival states or so-called barbarian peoples. During the Classical period, power was defined by land, so empires and states focused on accumulating and controlling as much land as possible. While this tactic initially contributed to the power of the states, it ultimately led to their decline, as the expanse of empires became too much for the state to control. From 600 BCE to …show more content…
Both governments had a difficulty securing their borders with their own armed forces, this caused them to rely on mercenaries who weren’t loyal to those who hired them. In the Roman Empire, Germanic tribes, as well as the Huns, threatened the stability of the empire. As Rome expanded to the boundaries of other civilizations, they threatened the expansive tactics of the empire. In Han China, endless conflicting powers and invasions of barbarians people, disrupted the stability in the bureaucratic system. Both regions struggled with maintaining stability in their precarious state and were met with threats from outside and within. The northern nomadic peoples were able to establish themselves into China despite efforts by the Han army and the Great Wall.
Although both Han China and the Roman Empire were similar in their instability and eroded imperial authority, they differed in China’s ability to reassemble because of their common cultures. China was unified by Chinese script, Confucianism, and a bureaucratic government. Rome however, did not a common religion or culture like in China, so they had no unifying factor to hold them together. By 479 CE Rome had divided into various political systems, and the rise of Christianity came too late to unify them. When the empire had grown so vast that it could no longer be governed from Rome, Emperor Diocletian divided the empire into two halves. The
The Han Dynasty of China from 206 B.C.E. to 220 C.E. and the Imperial Roman Empire from 21 B.C.E. to 476 C.E. were large empires that dominated during their time periods.
When comparing Han China and Classical Rome, many political, geographical, and religious similarities can be found, though many differences are also prevalent. Though Roman and Han political structures both emphasized bureaucracies, they came to them quite differently. Through copious amounts of expansion, both societies spread culture and earned money, though expansion was eventually their downfalls. Their religions differed immensely, with Rome emphasizing polytheism and Han China focusing on Confucianism. The differences and similarities between these two civilizations are to be discussed in this essay.
Rome and Han China had relatively different approaches to land ownership as a means of imperial
The decline of China and Rome both shared similar economic strife in that they were both subject to barbarian and nomadic invasions, therefore having to spend large amounts of money on frontier defense; however, they differed in that the Han Empire collapsed in part due to the high taxes imposed on the peasant class resulting in a large peasant rebellion, such as the Yellow Turbans, while in Rome tax collections was in danger of abandonment as residents of the empire were few in number and in financial difficulty. In addition, the two empires were similar socially because of large epidemics, diseases, and plagues that caused a population decrease. Also, both experienced a
Throughout history, there were various empires which developed into great, powerful forces. These empires expanded their lands to new places but, these empires ultimately came to an end. Amongst these great empires, were the Han and the Roman empire. Both were great in power but, due to political, social, and economic causes, they came to an end. Although they do partake in the equal shares of corruption and problems with the military, they also had fair shares of differences, regarding their declines. For example, the Han empire had decentralization and rebellion while Rome had shifted in interests and developed war issues. These differences and similarities are bits of history which help to comprehend why these empires are no longer
Classical Chinese Empires and the Roman Empire were both a big political power in their times. Chinese governments had a centralized government, same with the Roman’s. Both empires were very scared of their dynasties spreading out. This happened to the Greek-City State Athens, they were very decentralized and Athens spread out to make new villages. This caused Athens to eventually fall because they couldn’t take the power of the Roman Empire. Both were very successful and they accomplished many great achievements with the many leaders they both had. Innovation similarities were very similar as well because both empires invented and carried
There are some similarities between the reasons for the fall of the Roman Empire and the fall of the Han Dynasty. In Document 12, it says that the rulers of the Han Dynasty were not being good rulers and talking care of the civilization like they should. Instead, they were amusing themselves with pleasures of court life. Also, the people of China wanted to overthrow one of the reformist officials, Wang Mang, because he was trying to confiscate the great estates and abolish slavery. He eventually was killed. In Document 2, shows a list of all the changes in power from the Roman Empire because of the rulers not doing their duty to the people and they got assassinated or killed in battle. They both were having problems with the rulers not helping their civilization and doing things that the people of the civilization didn’t like. According to Document 4 and 5, the Roman Empire got invaded multiple times by different
During the classical age two equally large empires stood at opposite sides of Eurasia, Imperial Rome which lasted from 31 B.C.E to 476 C.E and encompassed all the lands of the Mediterranean, and The Han Dynasty of China which lasted from 206 B.C.E to 220 C.E and encompassed all of China. Both these empires had similar traits in their political structures and belief systems, but each had their singularities that made them unique; despite the geographical separation they had. Both empires placed supernatural sanctions on their regimes to allow an unrestricted level of government control and interference over their people; Rome with Imperial cults that revered their deceased emperors to be gods, and Han China with the mandate of heaven that
Primarily, the style of governments was principally different. Han China favored a Legalist and Confucian mix, due to Emperor Gaozu abolishing only some of the previous Legalist ways, and introducing strategic measures to keep the people happy, such as cutting costs to reduce taxes and storing grain in times of shortage. Imperial Rome, however, implied a principate and military dictatorial form of government. Augustus still maintained the the offices, senate, and many functions of the old republic, while using the military to secure his control. Although he never called himself an emperor, he chose to be “princeps.” Just as well, both governments inforced different types of labor. Han China was popular for it’s forced labor, like for the Great Wall construction, while Rome relied on slave labor for the fieldwork in farming and doing the lower, more laborious jobs. Relating to the class system, the government in Han China also suppressed the merchants while Rome was dependent on them. Han Chinese gentry members and advisers blamed merchants for many of the economic problems, and prohibited them and their children from holding government positions. However, in Rome, the empire experienced a “pax romana” where its merchants are traders were particularly successful in providing wealth to the Roman government, which in return deployed military members along trade routes to ensure the safety of
Though separated by immense distance, Imperial Rome and Han China paralleled each other in many ways. As vast empires, both maintained a large standing army to stabilize their borders and to conquer neighboring territories. Inwards, to facilitate communication and transportation, these empires built complex road system, connecting once isolated cities across their lands. Yet, in China, the ruler was seen as a son of god, if not god himself, while in Rome, the rulers had to fight for his position, promoting a ruler cult and to justify their reign. Prosperous and affluent, the Roman Empire and Han China were attractive targets of wealth-hungry nomadic tribes surrounding the empires.
Empires that existed during the third century B.C.E. were the Roman and Han Empires. These two empires were similar, as their authorities invoked supernatural sanctions to support their rule and invested heavily in public works such as roads, bridges, and protective walls. The falls of the Roman and Han Empires were more similar than different. Before these empires existed, Rome was a center of a big imperial state which eventually became a republic. Meanwhile, China was under the rule of the Qin Dynasty.
Han China (206 B.C.E -220C.E) and Imperial Rome (31 B.C.E-476 C.E) empires have both left big marks on our world and the way we view it today. Throughout history, these empires tried to create something that stood out. Though both were in different parts of the world, they both seemed to run their government in the same type of fashion with a few differences that made their empire the best for them. Although, they had a difference in slavery roles, they seem to fall under the similarities of leadership styles, social orders, and world influence.
Both of the governments were ruled by Emperors, which gave little power to the people. The emperors had absolute power within the two, which meant the citizens had no power in politics. The military of the two were also very similar, both focused on expansion. The main goal of each government was to expand, this would ultimately lead to the decline of both. While some would say that the technology created by the two are their greatest similarities, this is false because while both were technologically advanced, they used their technology for different reason, for example, Rome created aqueducts for their cities and Han invented things such as crossbows to fight in battles.
The fall of the Han Dynasty and the Western Roman Empire had many factors that built up to the ruins. Both dynasties fell due to poor leadership, economic troubles, and nomadic troops invading. Although the poor leadership and economic troubles were very similar in impacting the fall, nomadic groups made different impacts of both empires that soon led to the end of both eras. Both dynasties had a history of nomadic battles, but the Western Roman Empire was defeated and ended in one battle, while the Han Dynasty had many battles that took a very long time that led up to the end. The economic troubles in both China and Rome were tax related, and the poor leadership in both places were similar, and made impacts that caused the fall.
Two empires from two different time periods are different, but are also similar at the same time. These two power house empires are the Roman Empire of the west and the Han Dynasty in China to the east. Both the Empires of China and Rome were ruled by an emperor who maintained imperial control, however, the Chinese instituted a system of scholar bureaucrats that gained their position through merit, while the Romans never achieved such an elaborate bureaucracy. The Hans were also more technologically advanced and culturally creative, and had a different treatment of their emperors.