Han & Rome Empires: Decline of Empires

THE EARLY HAN DYNASTY Liu Bang Liu Bang A general, persistent man, a methodical planner A general, persistent man, a methodical planner Restored order, established dynasty, 206 B.C.E. Restored order, established dynasty, 206 B.C.E. Han was long-lived dynasty Han was long-lived dynasty Martial Emperor ( B.C.E.) Martial Emperor ( B.C.E.) Han Wudi ruled for 54 years Han Wudi ruled for 54 years Pursued centralization and expansion Pursued centralization and expansion

HAN STATECRAFT Han centralization Han centralization Adopted Legalist policies Adopted Legalist policies Built an enormous bureaucracy to rule the empire Built an enormous bureaucracy to rule the empire Continued to build roads and canals Continued to build roads and canals Levied taxes on agriculture, trade, and craft industries Levied taxes on agriculture, trade, and craft industries Imperial monopolies on production of iron and salt Imperial monopolies on production of iron and salt Established Confucian educational system for training bureaucrats Established Confucian educational system for training bureaucrats Confucianism as the basis of the curriculum in imperial university Confucianism as the basis of the curriculum in imperial university Thirty thousand students enrolled in the university in Later Han Thirty thousand students enrolled in the university in Later Han Han imperial expansion Han imperial expansion Invaded and colonized northern Vietnam and Korea Invaded and colonized northern Vietnam and Korea Extended China into central Asia Extended China into central Asia Han organized vast armies to invade Xiongnu territory Han organized vast armies to invade Xiongnu territory Han enjoyed uncontested control in east and central Asia Han enjoyed uncontested control in east and central Asia

HAN SOCIAL STRUCTURE Patriarchal, patrilocal households averaged five inhabitants Patriarchal, patrilocal households averaged five inhabitants Large, multigenerational compound families also developed Large, multigenerational compound families also developed Women's subordination (Ban Zhao Admonitions for Women) Women's subordination (Ban Zhao Admonitions for Women) Cultivators were the majority of the population Cultivators were the majority of the population Differences apparent between noble, lower class women Differences apparent between noble, lower class women Scholar bureaucrats: Confucian trained bureaucrats Scholar bureaucrats: Confucian trained bureaucrats Officials selected through competitive testing Officials selected through competitive testing Used to run the government in Early Han Used to run the government in Early Han Scholar Gentry Scholar Gentry Confucian bureaucrats intermarried with landed elite Confucian bureaucrats intermarried with landed elite New class comes to dominate local, national offices New class comes to dominate local, national offices Strongest in late Han Strongest in late Han Merchants held in low social esteem Merchants held in low social esteem

TRADE AND COMMERCE Iron metallurgy: Farming tools, utensils, and weapons Iron metallurgy: Farming tools, utensils, and weapons State monopolies on liquor, salt and iron State monopolies on liquor, salt and iron Silk textiles Silk textiles Sericulture spread all over China during the Han Sericulture spread all over China during the Han High quality Chinese silk became a prized commodity High quality Chinese silk became a prized commodity Traded as far afield as India, Persia, Mesopotamia, and Rome Traded as far afield as India, Persia, Mesopotamia, and Rome Paper production Paper production Invented probably before 100 C.E. Invented probably before 100 C.E. Began to replace silk and bamboo as writing materials Began to replace silk and bamboo as writing materials Population growth Population growth Increased from twenty to sixty million from 220 B.C.E. to 9 C.E. Increased from twenty to sixty million from 220 B.C.E. to 9 C.E. Despite light taxation, state revenue was large Despite light taxation, state revenue was large Silk Road established: horses for silk Silk Road established: horses for silk

Han and Roman Empire Similarities Highly stratified societies. Highly stratified societies. Patriarchal families. Patriarchal families. Confucianism, Confucianism, pater familias. pater familias. Agricultural base: free peasants-small Agricultural base: free peasants-small farms or tenant farmers, farms or tenant farmers, Heavy dependency on slavery and latifundias. Heavy dependency on slavery and latifundias.

Han and Roman Empire Similarities Educated civil service. Educated civil service. Confucian trained scholar bureaucrats, civic responsibility. Confucian trained scholar bureaucrats, civic responsibility. Highly centralized state Highly centralized state dynastic, empires with dynastic, empires with appearance of limits appearance of limits through Senate. through Senate.

Han and Roman (continued) Multicultural empires—most conquered assimilated, citizenship offered to best, extension of Roman law and building Multicultural empires—most conquered assimilated, citizenship offered to best, extension of Roman law and building Extensive road systems and urban communities Extensive road systems and urban communities Subordinated women Subordinated women Armies maintain the empire internally and externally. Armies maintain the empire internally and externally.

Buddhism traveled the Silk Road to China Buddhism arose in India in the 6 th Century BCE. Buddhism arose in India in the 6 th Century BCE. Gradually Buddhism made its way with the merchants along the silk roads to Iran, central Asia, China, and southeast Asia. Gradually Buddhism made its way with the merchants along the silk roads to Iran, central Asia, China, and southeast Asia. As Buddhism spread north from India into central Asia and China, both it and Hinduism began to attract a following. As Buddhism spread north from India into central Asia and China, both it and Hinduism began to attract a following. Firmly established by 1 st Century BCE. Firmly established by 1 st Century BCE.

The Spread of Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity

Buddha Transformed as He Traveled West Indian Buddha

Decline of Empire

HAN TROUBLES Expeditions consumed the empire's surplus Expeditions consumed the empire's surplus Raised taxes and confiscated land of some wealthy individuals Raised taxes and confiscated land of some wealthy individuals Taxes, land confiscations discouraged investment Taxes, land confiscations discouraged investment Much of defense consumed on defending against nomads Much of defense consumed on defending against nomads Social tensions, stratification between the poor and rich Social tensions, stratification between the poor and rich Problems of land distribution Problems of land distribution Early Han supported land redistribution Early Han supported land redistribution Economic difficulties forced some small landowners to sell property Economic difficulties forced some small landowners to sell property Some sold themselves or their families into slavery Some sold themselves or their families into slavery Lands accumulated in the hands of a few Lands accumulated in the hands of a few No land reform, because Han needed cooperation of large landowners No land reform, because Han needed cooperation of large landowners The reign of Wang Mang The reign of Wang Mang A powerful Han minister A powerful Han minister Dethroned the baby emperor, claimed imperial title himself, 9 C.E. Dethroned the baby emperor, claimed imperial title himself, 9 C.E. Land reforms - the "socialist emperor" Land reforms - the "socialist emperor" Overthrown by revolts, 23 C.E. Overthrown by revolts, 23 C.E.

LOSS OF THE MANDATE The Later Han Dynasty ( C.E.) The Later Han Dynasty ( C.E.) Overthrown of Wang Mang restores Han Overthrown of Wang Mang restores Han New Han much weakened New Han much weakened Rule often through large families, gentry Rule often through large families, gentry Rise of Eunuchs in government as new source of power Rise of Eunuchs in government as new source of power The Yellow Turban Uprising (Daoist Revolt) The Yellow Turban Uprising (Daoist Revolt) Rulers restored order but did not address problem of landholding Rulers restored order but did not address problem of landholding Yellow Turban uprising inflicted serious damage on the Han Yellow Turban uprising inflicted serious damage on the Han Collapse of the Han Collapse of the Han Factions at court paralyzed the central government Factions at court paralyzed the central government Han empire dissolved Han empire dissolved China was divided into regional kingdoms China was divided into regional kingdoms Devastated by plague Devastated by plague Invaded by Huns and other nomadic forces Invaded by Huns and other nomadic forces

ROMAN Decline: Government Structure Imperial system Emperorship not hereditary Emperor selected arbitrarily Elite form imperial bureaucracy The Crisis Succession crises, many civil wars Many military coups Declining Loyalty to State Politicized generals Corruption, graft common. Eastern, Western Empires too much to manage.

ROMAN Decline: Military Structure “All volunteer army” Poor, foreigners, criminals Citizens avoid military service Problems Politicized Generals, Incompetent Troops loyal to paying leader Troops largely “barbarians” Persia Major enemy Romans fight wrong force Roman troops in East

ROMAN Decline: Economics Economic Structure Capitalistic, mercantilistic Some command economy Commercial agriculture: grains, export Heavy reliance on slave labor Industry not wide-spread Problems Economic Stagnation, collapse Agriculture disrupted, famines Currency devalued, worthless Trade, commerce collapse Peasants overtaxed Feudalism on Rise

ROMAN Decline: Religion ROMAN Decline: Religion Original Roman Faith Traditions Nationalistic, ritualistic Unemotional Rise of Philosophies, Mystery Religions Rise of Christianity Christianity spreading, vibrant Attracts poor, women, slaves Good Romans enter Church Problem for Rome Loyalty to God, church, faith Christians live in East, urban areas Church is state within a state

ROMAN Decline: The Germans ROMAN Decline: The Germans Homeland Overpopulated, hunger for land Migrated to East, SE Europe Spread of agriculture Tribal Structure War-like kings led tribes Well-led, loyalty to leader Rule of king not rule of law Interactions: War, Faith, Diplomacy Enjoyed war, part of their code Superior in cavalry, archers Often strong Arian Christians Allied with Huns, Romans Turned on both in end Kings assign lands after conquest to loyal supporters

Decline of Empires Empires too big—costly to defend the frontiers Burden of taxes on the poor, some flee to evade taxes, as maintaining the grows more costly—taxes go up, few new sources of revenue, religious groups and nobility exempt Slavery in Roman so oppressive less productive, fewer new sources, less technological development

Decline of Empires (continued) Administrative problems Administrative problems succession—court intrigue, barrack emperors failing bureaucracies—corruption of examination system, lack of civic responsibility Roman—bread and circuses to forestall revolts Eroding economies—decline in trade when roads not repaired or safe Eroding economies—decline in trade when roads not repaired or safe Religion—Christianity a factor in the decline of Rome, but not Buddhism in the decline of the Han Dynasty. Religion—Christianity a factor in the decline of Rome, but not Buddhism in the decline of the Han Dynasty.

Decline of Empires (continued) Plagues—hit both empires hard, especially in cities of Roman empire Plagues—hit both empires hard, especially in cities of Roman empire Pressure from nomads—Huns, Xiongnu, Germanic Pressure from nomads—Huns, Xiongnu, Germanic

Why did the west fall harder? More multiethnic Han Chinese—a true nation that can endure beyond the dynasty. More multiethnic Han Chinese—a true nation that can endure beyond the dynasty. In Roman empire most live outside Italy. In Roman empire most live outside Italy. State and society not bonded together with the same glue—China, Confucianism offers both order for family, society and state—not true of Romans State and society not bonded together with the same glue—China, Confucianism offers both order for family, society and state—not true of Romans Better assimilation of “barbarians” by China, Germanic dismembered Roman empire, while nomads absorbed by Chinese Better assimilation of “barbarians” by China, Germanic dismembered Roman empire, while nomads absorbed by Chinese Common language—Latin never really replaced Greek in much of the empire Common language—Latin never really replaced Greek in much of the empire

Why did the western Roman empire fall and not the eastern? Deep, engrained civilization in the east—Greeks and before Deep, engrained civilization in the east—Greeks and before East less impacted by nomadic invasion—maybe because many enduring cities, large populations East less impacted by nomadic invasion—maybe because many enduring cities, large populations Tribes on eastern borders were disorganized and unmotivated Tribes on eastern borders were disorganized and unmotivated After separation of empire, east no longer has to send any help to West After separation of empire, east no longer has to send any help to West Even with changing political structure, little threat to social, economic or cultural continuity Even with changing political structure, little threat to social, economic or cultural continuity No cities in the west No cities in the west German soldiers fill the ranks of Roman legions German soldiers fill the ranks of Roman legions When west cut from wealth of East, the tax base dwindled When west cut from wealth of East, the tax base dwindled

What were 5 causes for the collapse of the Classical Empires of Rome, and Han China? How were their collapses similar and different? Which region had the hardest fall and why? ESSAY: What were 5 causes for the collapse of the Classical Empires of Rome, and Han China? How were their collapses similar and different? Which region had the hardest fall and why?

Which empire’s fall, Han or Rome, had the greatest effect on the Classical World? Why? ESSAY: Which empire’s fall, Han or Rome, had the greatest effect on the Classical World? Why?

C/C the collapse of C/C the collapse of TWO of the following empires in the Classical period. Han China (206 B.C.E. – 220 C.E.) Mauryan/Gupta India (320 B.C.E. – 550C.E.) Imperial Rome (31 B.C.E. – 476 C.E.)