Age of Empires: Rome & Han China 753 B.C.E – 600 C.E

Rome: The Republic B.C.E Senate & Consul(s) = –2 major branches of govt. –Provincial Governors = Corrupt Early Expansion –Motives = Greed, aggressiveness, Consul generalship –Methods = Citizen armies, Roman citizenship to conquered peoples –Ex: Carthage BCE / Hellenistic BCE / Gaul (Julius Caesar) Failure of Rome’s Republic –Latifundia Estates / $ Crops –Poor urban population –Swaying loyalty of soldiers

Rome: The Empire 31 B.C.E- 600 C.E. Octavian (Augustus Caesar) = Emperor of Rome –Increased power of Emperor –Reformed govt. / civil service / added land –Succession determined by army Pax Romana 27 BCE – 180 CE –Manufacture & Trade Flourished –Imports (Grain, Silk, Spices) –Exports (glass, metalwork, pottery) Romanization = –Adaptation of Roman culture by conquered peoples Western Empire Crumbling while Eastern Empire Flourishing –Constantinople new capital 324CE (Preserved Roman traditions)

Rome: The Culture Religions –Mythology -> Christianity –Adopted by Emperor Constantine –Council of Nicea Rural Rome –80% of empire = farmers –Hard life of farming Urban Empire –Rome, Alexandria, Carthage, Antioch Paterfamilias = –Roman hierarchical family structure –Status of women depended on social class and husband

Qin China B.C.E Shi Huangdi (Emperor) –‘Unification’ of Central and Northern China –Created strong bureaucracy –Suppressed Confucianism & Daoism in favor of Legalism –Secured Borders: Forced conscription & freed peasantry from slavery but forced public works (Great Wall & Terra Cotta) –Death in 210 BCE & Qin Rule over by 206 B.C.E

Han China: 206 B.C.E.-220 C.E. Family = Basic Unit of Society –Unbroken chain of ancestors –Hierarchy of elder male –Women’s status depended on social class of husband Confucianism = Major Ideology Major Leaders –Liu Bang =Transition from Qin to Han –Wu = Stronger military, adoption of Confucianism, Expansion of empire BCE Decline & Fall 220 CE –Undermined by weak leadership, less tax revenue, mercenary armies, corruption, nomadic attacks

Comparison Rome & Han China Similarities –Agriculture = Main Economic Activity –Empires encompassed diverse cultures –Built roads (Military & Commercial Use) –Majority of population lived in rural areas –Undermined by military spending –Overrun by ‘barbarians’ that continued their culture Differences –Imperial model survived continuously in China –Concept of the individual (Rome) –Economic mobility of middle class (Rome) –Structure of Military (professional soldiers V. draftees) –Major Religions

Continuities/Patterns in Chinese History Ethnocentrism Xenophobia Importance of Family Low Status of Women Conflict with Nature Hard Lives of Peasants Authoritarian Govt. Dynastic Cycle Cultural Conservatism Education Valued Creativity & Innovation