The Roman Empire and Han China: A close comparison

Imperial Rome and Han China Both lasted approximately 400 years Both had population of about 50 million

Origins of empire 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

Both emphasized territorial expansion Roman EmpireHan China

Integrating the empires Massive road building projects linked crucial parts of the empires Roads facilitated communication, economic activity, access to resources, and movement of military.

Mechanisms for political integration in China Confucianism identified principles necessary for political and social order Emphasized the emperors divine majesty Developed a sophisticated bureaucracy with gov representatives in the provinces

Mechanisms for political integration in the Roman Empire 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

The power of the central governments in Han China and Imperial Rome 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.

Han China worked harder at integration than the Romans 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

Rome also used colonies to foster unity and integration throughout the Empire 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

Territorial expansion Han China Pushed boundaries far beyond Middle Kingdom, but when they reached a sustainable point, did not feel the need to compensate for cessation of expansion Imperial Rome 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

Han China was more culturally creative than Rome Rome’s literature, art, and architecture was derived from the Greeks Classical China was more creative in the area of technology (e.g. gunpowder)

Before Han, China created religious and philosophical systems in ways that Rome did not 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 activity 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

The decline of Imperial Rome and Han China A series of weak/incompetent emperors and invasions Once the western portion of Roman empire falls it will be remembered and borrowed from but never restored Han dynasty was destroyed, but its institutions and traditions were revived by later regimes