A close comparison

Both lasted approximately 400 years Both had population of about 50 million

Han China built on earlier imperial traditions started by the Qin and Zhou

Rome was built on controlling aristocratic landlords and a certain element of

democracy

Roman Empire Han China

Massive road building projects linked crucial parts of the empires

Roads facilitated communication, economic activity, access to resources, and movement of military.

Confucianism identified principles necessary for political and social order

Emphasized the emperors divine majesty

Developed a sophisticated bureaucracy with gov representatives in the provinces

Literature – writers were eager to sing the praises of the emperor and the imperial system

Bureaucracy less complex than Han, but greater emphasis on the legal system

Monuments and triumphal processions played up the glory and grandeur of the empire itself and its rulers

• Both systems expanded the functions of government, using considerable powers of bureaucracy and taxation to provision major cities.

• Both governments were actively engaged in a certain level of economic activity designed to ensure a stable social and political order.

Large colonies of northern Chinese were planted in newly conquered territories

Use of Mandarin language required by the elite and bureaucrats and pushed heavily on all classes

Colonies were smaller, basically military outposts not intended for population integration

Latin was encouraged but never supplanted Greek in the east

Expansion of Roman citizenship was emphasized

Rome was content to establish looser control on provinces and rely on local autonomy

Han China Imperial Rome

Pushed boundaries far beyond Middle Kingdom,

but when the Han Empire reached a large geographical area,

Had difficulty maintaining large land border

did not feel the need to continue expansion

Stopped expansion

Rome’s appetite for expansion was unbounded

A more militaristic culture Romans needed additional

territory to reward generals and soldiers

They needed a continuing supply of slaves for their labor system

Rome began to fade after 180 CE when expansion became impossible

Rome’s literature, art, and architecture was derived from the Greeks

Classical China was more creative in the area of technology (e.g. gunpowder)

Han emphasized Confucianism and Rome’s emphasis was on civic religion

Both emphases called attention to rituals and themes that would bring loyalty to the empire, but neither was intensely spiritual

Both are exposed to new religions late in the Classical Period

Military was encouraged by both, but more so by Rome

Rome known for tight discipline and organization of the infantry known as the legions

China known more for military philosophy: Sun Tzu’s The Art of War still considered one of the great works on military strategy

Romecorrupt thinking, and inability to continue tax collectionsA series of weak/incompetent emperors and invasionsOnce the western portion of Roman empire falls it will be remembered and borrowed from but never restoredRome dynasty was destroyed, but its institutions and traditions were revived by later regimes

Hancorrupt thinking, and inability to continue tax collectionsrich land owners grew more powerful by buying there own private armies and avoiding taxesLiving conditions and life for the peasantry was getting worse, and the rich land owners grew more powerful by buying there own private armies and avoiding taxes. The peasants finally revolted