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Comparing/Contrasting Imperial Rome to Han China
Similarities & DifferencesUsing your SPECTS
The Basics:
Han = 206 BCE – 220 CE
Roman Empire 27 BCE – 476 CE
Both lasted approx 400 years
Both had populations of 50 million
Similar size territory
Geography Rome had a large “inland” sea (Mediterranean) for ease of
trade and travel. Well constructed roads made land travel and communication possible.
China was a land based empire. River travel, canals, roads had to be built and maintained for transportation and communication.
Territorial size of both was approx. 2.5 million at their peak
Territorial size of Rome was ultimately restricted by deserts (N. Africa/Middle East) and European mountains (Alps)
Han’s territorial size was limited by the Tibetan Plateau, western deserts (Gobi, Taklimakan), mountains (Himalayas, Tian Shan)
Origins
Han built off precedents of many previous dynasties Shang, Xhou, Qin
Rome built an empire “more from scratch”; some based on Greeks
Imperialism Both were imperialistic but Rome far more so
Militarism Both were threatened by nomadic invaders. Conquered
territories under imperial control.
Rome paid it’s soldiers with conquered land and captured wealth. Resulted in greater incentive to use military. Constantly sought to expand. Local leaders often remained in control under Roman supervision.
Economic
Both economies were based on agriculture Land was highly valued
Governments imposed taxes for revenue
Both standardized weights and measures, monopolized key resources i.e. salt, iron
China relied on peasants to do labor
Rome relied on slave labor (captives from war) up to 1/3 of pop.
Wealth more concentrated in small landowning population. Forced peasants to live in urban areas. Need for slave labor on latifundia.
Technology
Road building important to both. Roman roads were marvels of engineering. Facilitated trade, travel, military travel
Roman aqueducts, for irrigation, water delivery
Roman construction/architecture = monumental, grandeur
Chinese construction/architecture = practical, defensive, transportation
Political China
Confucianism, Mandate of Heaven, Civil Service Exam (some social mobility), emphasize homogeneous culture
Ritual ancestor veneration, ceremonial, educated gentleman class (Junzi), Ren, Li, Xiao
RomeLess centralized, built by overlaying
Roman law over local rulers and laws
Rome prided itself on establishing peace and rule of law through expansion
Venerated emperors “cult of worship”
Culture China
Focused on homogeneous culture building largely through Confucianism, promoting ethnically Han language, sending out bureaucratic officials to enforce
Rome
Looser, more diverse, cosmopolitan
More local autonomy, local leadership, greater diversity of language
Roman citizenship granted common rights
Culture
Patriarchal
Eldest male/father most respected, authoritative
China: family was model of gov’t organization i.e. emperor was “father” – Confucian ideology
Rome – emperor is not viewed as father figure; he is a god
Paterfamilias
Religion
Outside religion moves into each region China = Buddhism in later Han
Rome = Christianity
In both places the new religion is not officially welcomed. Through syncretism both gain mass conversions and official acceptance
Both are salvation religions i.e. seek to eternal life, heaven, nirvana etc…
Decline of Empires
Rome and ChinaThreatened by outside invasions of nomadic
(aka barbarian) forces related to the HunsBoth are weakened from overexpansion =
borders are too long/too expensive to defendWeakness signals to citizens decay
China “right to rebel”Rome - loss of support for Roman empire
Differences in Decline
Rome = civilization and institutions collapse
Loss of Latin language = rise of vernacular
Loss of Roman numerals and measures
Loss of basis for legal culture
China
Although government falls, language, culture, institutions will remain or be revived