An Age of Empires: Rome An Age of Empires: Rome and Han China, 753 and Han China, 753

B.C.E. – 330 C.E.B.C.E. – 330 C.E.

Chapter FiveChapter Five

A Republic of FarmersA Republic of FarmersRome --- founded by Romulus in 753 B.C.E.Rome --- founded by Romulus in 753 B.C.E.► Growth of Roman State based on Growth of Roman State based on Timber and MetalsTimber and Metals, , A Large A Large

human populationhuman population, , navigable riversnavigable rivers and and fertile soilfertile soil..► Economic wealth of based on Farming/Agriculture.Economic wealth of based on Farming/Agriculture.► Heads of wealthy families were members of the SENATE - Heads of wealthy families were members of the SENATE -

dominated politics in the Roman State.dominated politics in the Roman State.► Roman RepublicRoman Republic lasted from 507 to 31 B.C.E., was hardly a lasted from 507 to 31 B.C.E., was hardly a

democracy. Why?democracy. Why?► Family was important, oldest living male Family was important, oldest living male ((paterfamiliaspaterfamilias)) was the was the

head of the family.head of the family.► Pax DeorumPax Deorum --- “peace of the Gods”, a covenant between the --- “peace of the Gods”, a covenant between the

gods and the Roman state. gods and the Roman state.

Expansion in Italy and the Expansion in Italy and the MediterraneanMediterranean

► Greed and fondness of warGreed and fondness of war► Help promote glory for the military leader/consulHelp promote glory for the military leader/consul► Only defending themselvesOnly defending themselves► Fear, to achieve a buffer areaFear, to achieve a buffer area► Romans viewed the Romans viewed the natural worldnatural world::

--- Filled with many shapeless forces named numina--- Filled with many shapeless forces named numina

--- Containing gods who would favor Rome if it carried --- Containing gods who would favor Rome if it carried out proper sacrifices and rituals.out proper sacrifices and rituals.

Wars 264 – 202 B.C.E.Wars 264 – 202 B.C.E.

►Rome fought 2 protracted and bloody Rome fought 2 protracted and bloody wars against the wars against the CarthaginiansCarthaginians. .

--- Rome was unchallenged master of --- Rome was unchallenged master of the the western Mediterraneanwestern Mediterranean and and acquired its first overseas provinces in acquired its first overseas provinces in Sicily, Sardinia, and Spain.Sicily, Sardinia, and Spain.

►allowed allowed considerable autonomyconsiderable autonomy to to cooperative local elitescooperative local elites

What Helped?What Helped?► Consolidating their hold over Italy Consolidating their hold over Italy

was their willingness to grant was their willingness to grant peoplepeople politicalpolitical, , legallegal, and , and economic economic privilegesprivileges of Roman citizenship to of Roman citizenship to conquered populationsconquered populations

--- Eventually they mastered the --- Eventually they mastered the Provincial Governor style Provincial Governor style government.government.

FailureFailure► Italian Italian peasant farmerspeasant farmers were away were away

from home a lot on military servicefrom home a lot on military service► Italian landowners began to count on Italian landowners began to count on

inexpensive slavesinexpensive slaves, not peasant , not peasant farmers.farmers.

► The society began to The society began to idolize and idolize and follow generalsfollow generals, not the state. , not the state. (Pompey, Caesar, Mark Antony (Pompey, Caesar, Mark Antony etc…) Civil Wars…Senate losses etc…) Civil Wars…Senate losses authority.authority.

► OctavianOctavian (Augustus) (Augustus), eliminated all , eliminated all rivals and reorganized the Roman rivals and reorganized the Roman government after 31 B.C.E.government after 31 B.C.E.

The Urban EmpireThe Urban Empire► 80% lived within the borders of the empire80% lived within the borders of the empire► Rome had a pop of 1 million, Alexandria Rome had a pop of 1 million, Alexandria

200,000+200,000+

--- --- RichRich lived in nice villas, lived in nice villas, poorpoor in crowded slumsin crowded slums

--- You could be a Roman citizen if you served in --- You could be a Roman citizen if you served in the militarythe military

►Pax RomanaPax Romana: Roman Peace. The safety and : Roman Peace. The safety and stability guaranteed by Roman might. stability guaranteed by Roman might. RomanizationRomanization

Roman CitizenshipRoman Citizenship►At firstAt first, new towns were reluctant to grant , new towns were reluctant to grant

Roman Citizenship, with all the privileges, Roman Citizenship, with all the privileges, legal protections, and tax exemption to legal protections, and tax exemption to people outside of Italy. people outside of Italy. BUT….BUT….

►Complete 26 year military service, Complete 26 year military service, become a Roman citizen.become a Roman citizen.

►People made Roman Citizens by the People made Roman Citizens by the Emperor if they performed a good deed.Emperor if they performed a good deed.

►212 B.C.E.212 B.C.E. all free, adult, males granted all free, adult, males granted citizenship.citizenship.

Rise of ChristianityRise of Christianity

►JesusJesus and and Pontius Pontius PilatePilate……..Jesus was the ……..Jesus was the MessiahMessiah

►CatholicismCatholicism grew slowly grew slowly and steadily --- women, and steadily --- women, slaves and the poor slaves and the poor followed it….followed it….

►Minority in the Roman Minority in the Roman RepublicRepublic

TechnologyTechnology►AqueductsAqueducts --- long elevated or --- long elevated or

underground conduits --- carried water underground conduits --- carried water from a source to an urban center.from a source to an urban center.

►Concrete Concrete --- mixture of lime powder, --- mixture of lime powder, sand and water. sand and water.

TransformationTransformation► Third – Century CrisisThird – Century Crisis: period where : period where politicalpolitical, ,

militarymilitary, and , and economiceconomic problemsproblems beset and nearly beset and nearly destroyed the Roman Empire. destroyed the Roman Empire.

► 20 men 20 men claimedclaimed to be the rulers during this period to be the rulers during this period► Civil Wars in the Northern parts of the empire Civil Wars in the Northern parts of the empire ► Impact on the economy was negativeImpact on the economy was negative► DiocletianDiocletian: Saved the Roman Empire, at its bleakest : Saved the Roman Empire, at its bleakest

moment.moment.► ConstantineConstantine: The first Roman Emperor to convert to : The first Roman Emperor to convert to

ChristianityChristianity

Third-Century CrisisThird-Century Crisis

►PoliticalPolitical, , MilitaryMilitary and and EconomicEconomic problems weaken the Empire.problems weaken the Empire.

►Most visible symptom was the Most visible symptom was the frequent change of rulers.frequent change of rulers.

--- --- 20+20+ men claimed the office of men claimed the office of emperor from 235 to 284 C.E.emperor from 235 to 284 C.E.

The Origins of Imperial China, 221 B.C.E – 220 C.E.

Resources and PopulationResources and Population

►Most Important: Most Important: Agricultural Agricultural production and production and LaborLabor

►Qin and Han exploit the peasantsQin and Han exploit the peasants

--- Send men to the Army, collect taxes, and provide --- Send men to the Army, collect taxes, and provide laborlabor

--- Han and agriculture--- Han and agriculture

Hierarchy, Obedience and BeliefHierarchy, Obedience and Belief

► Family was the basic unit of societyFamily was the basic unit of society► Teachings of Confucius were a fundamental source of Teachings of Confucius were a fundamental source of

values for values for familyfamily, , socialsocial , and , and politicalpolitical organizations. organizations.--- --- DutyDuty and and ProperProper Conduct Conduct► Women were to cook, do chores, respect their in-laws Women were to cook, do chores, respect their in-laws

and obey their husband.and obey their husband.--- After marriage, must prove her --- After marriage, must prove her worthinessworthiness, live with , live with

husbands family.husbands family.► Believed in Believed in natural spiritsnatural spirits--- --- FengshuiFengshui >find best location and orientation for >find best location and orientation for

buildings and gravesbuildings and graves

The First Chinese Empire – The First Chinese Empire – Warring Warring States PeriodStates Period

► QinQin Empire unites China (221 B.C.E.) Empire unites China (221 B.C.E.)

1. Ability and ruthlessness of ruler: 1. Ability and ruthlessness of ruler: Shi Shi HuangdiHuangdi

2. Ability to mobilize 2. Ability to mobilize manpowermanpower for for irrigationirrigation, , flood-controlflood-control projects, to strengthen the projects, to strengthen the central governmentcentral government

Shi Huangdi “First Emperor”Shi Huangdi “First Emperor”

--- Suppressed Confucianism--- Suppressed Confucianism--- Eliminated Rivals--- Eliminated Rivals--- Abolished primogeniture and --- Abolished primogeniture and

slaveryslavery--- Constructed a rural economy --- Constructed a rural economy --- Standardized weights and --- Standardized weights and

measuresmeasures--- Built roads and the --- Built roads and the

(eventually) “Great Wall” (eventually) “Great Wall”

The Long Reign of the Han The Long Reign of the Han (206 B.C.E. – 220 C.E)(206 B.C.E. – 220 C.E)

►Liu BangLiu Bang – a peasant who took – a peasant who took control of China.control of China.

--- Drew on --- Drew on ConfucianismConfucianism and and LegalistLegalist techniques techniques

►Emperor WuEmperor Wu – (140-87 B.C.E) – (140-87 B.C.E)►Chang’anChang’an --- Western Han --- Western Han

period Capital (202 B.C.E. to 8 period Capital (202 B.C.E. to 8 C.E.)C.E.)

►LuoyangLuoyang --- Eastern Han --- Eastern Han Capitol (23-22 C.E.)Capitol (23-22 C.E.)

Administration of the HanAdministration of the Han

Based on Confucius philosophy:Based on Confucius philosophy:►Allied with the gentry class of educated Allied with the gentry class of educated

landowners.landowners.►Started and imperial university.Started and imperial university.►Exempted government officials from Exempted government officials from

military duty.military duty.

--- Though any citizen could rise to power, --- Though any citizen could rise to power, the children of the gentry had best the children of the gentry had best opportunity.opportunity.

Chang’anChang’an► Easily defended Easily defended Walled cityWalled city► EliteElite lived in elegant multi-storied houses on broad, well- lived in elegant multi-storied houses on broad, well-

planned boulevardsplanned boulevards► CommonCommon people lived in closely packed houses, in people lived in closely packed houses, in

unplanned, winding alleys.unplanned, winding alleys.► Emperor was supremeEmperor was supreme--- Son of Heaven, Source of Law, but could lose his --- Son of Heaven, Source of Law, but could lose his

Mandate of HeavenMandate of Heaven► GentryGentry: Local officials, landowners, adopted : Local officials, landowners, adopted

ConfucianismConfucianism

Technology and TradeTechnology and Trade

►MetallurgyMetallurgy --- Bronze to Iron --- Bronze to Iron in 500 B.C.E. Better end in 500 B.C.E. Better end product than the Romansproduct than the Romans

►Crossbow, Cavalry, Crossbow, Cavalry, Watermill, and Horse CollarWatermill, and Horse Collar

►RoadRoad Systems, Systems, CourierCourier Systems and Systems and CanalsCanals..

►Long-distance commerceLong-distance commerce

--- Silk most important--- Silk most important

--- Silk Road important--- Silk Road important

Decline of the HanDecline of the Han►Nomadic Tribes of the Nomadic Tribes of the NorthNorth Attack Attack

(biggest reason)(biggest reason)►$$$$$$$$$$$$ to defend the bordersto defend the borders►Merchants and Landowners became Merchants and Landowners became

powerful, not good for emperorpowerful, not good for emperor►Had to rely on Had to rely on mercenariesmercenaries, not too reliable, not too reliable►Dynasty Dynasty fallsfalls around 220 C.E. around 220 C.E.

Imperial Parallels – China vs. RomeImperial Parallels – China vs. Rome

SimilaritiesSimilarities► Family structure, values, taxation, administration and Family structure, values, taxation, administration and

empire buildingempire building► Same problems with Same problems with defendingdefending their large Empire their large Empire► Undermined by their military Undermined by their military expendituresexpenditures► Overrun by people, that took their cultureOverrun by people, that took their cultureDifferencesDifferences► Han reunified, Roman Empire never came backHan reunified, Roman Empire never came back► Social Social Mobility in Rome, Mobility in Rome, PoliticalPolitical Ideologies, Ideologies, ReligionsReligions

ConclusionConclusion► Quin and Han were able to Unify China; Rome constructed its Quin and Han were able to Unify China; Rome constructed its

empire slowly and without precedents to draw upon.empire slowly and without precedents to draw upon.

► Han and Roman Empires maintained and administered large Han and Roman Empires maintained and administered large territories and populations by virtue of their ability to organize territories and populations by virtue of their ability to organize large professional armies and professional bureaucracieslarge professional armies and professional bureaucracies

► Both empires provided long periods of peace and prosperity, but Both empires provided long periods of peace and prosperity, but they were undermined by the high cost of defense and by the they were undermined by the high cost of defense and by the heavy tax burden, which this put on their people.heavy tax burden, which this put on their people.

► Han dynasty constructed a political system that would be Han dynasty constructed a political system that would be revived and modified by subsequent dynasties; the Roman revived and modified by subsequent dynasties; the Roman empire was never restored.empire was never restored.