1. Comparative Snapshots Chart: Rome vs. Han China By: Gina Passanisi

2. The Roman Empire (753 BCE- 600 CE)

3. Han Dynasty (206 BCE- 220 CE)

4. Societal RomeBothHan China Two hereditary classes: Patricians (held all the land; higher class; served in Senate); Plebeians (95% of population, served in assembly) Clientage: patron-client relationship (patrons provided loans/protection to clients who fought for their patrons and supported them politically) Romanization: spread of Latin language and Roman way of life Oldest living male-- “paterfamilias” --authority over family Started from a homogenous group but population moved outward and took their traditions and ways of life with them Many conquered people adopted their language, religion, technologies, etc. Class of well-to-do merchants and landowners second in wealth and social status (called equites in Rome, gentry in Han China) Focused on a clear-cut hierarchy within the family which was the model for society and the state Each individual was part of a bigger social group

5. Political RomeBothHan China Capital= Rome Military- professional soldiers that served decades and received privileges so often got involved in political conflicts Army had influence on who became emperor Change over time: Monarch to Republican to Empire Conquered small and quarreling neighbors under a central gov’t Gov’t took percentage of the annual harvest as its main income Because of their size and population, gov’ts gave power to loyal local officials Capital= Chang’an Army made up of people drafted who served for 2 years so weren’t as involved in conflicts for power Combined legalism (idea that the ruler’s will was final so it was necessary to keep discipline through rewards and punishment) from Qin Dynasty with Confucianism

6. Religion RomeBothHan China Ancestors didn’t play big role Republican= pagan; Empire= Christianity Christianity: monotheistic so didn’t allow emperor to be thought of as divine Constantine-- Edict of Milan ended persecution of Christianity and guaranteed freedom of worship to Christians and others “Pagani”-- Latin word for “country folk” who kept customs deriving from worship of old gods One popular religion (Christianity in Roman Empire; Confucianism in Han Dynasty) Obedience and reverence for ancestors and elders was a big idea Mandate of Heaven: emperor was believed to be the divine Son of Heaven and brought the support of powerful ancestors Confucianism was popular religion Confucianism sanctified hierarchy and provided a code of conduct for professionals and public officials

7. Intellectual RomeBothHan China “Latin Right”: Laws that existed for Roman citizens and rights they had Migratio: if you moved into another Roman city-state, you would retain your rights and class; the idea of unalienable rights Augustus brought in engineers; advised against too much expansion Also reorganized 3 types of law: Civil law: rights for all citizens; Law of the People: rights for being alive; Property laws: how land was owned, etc. Educated people had more power Standardized systems of money and measurement Gentry class provided a system for training officials to be intellectually capable and morally worthy of their role May have had an imperial university Daoism became popular with common people (emphasized the search for path of nature and value of harmonizing with the natural world)

8. Technological RomeBothHan China Aqueducts (transported water using only the power of gravity) Pioneers in using arches Invented concrete Roads increased the speed of mobilizing troops and trading; therefore, culture spread too Had aggressive neighbors so built walls, forts, and garrisons to protect themselves First to make paper Used the crossbow and cavalry The watermill (converted water to energy) Made a horse collar that still allowed the horse to breath so they could carry a heavier amount than the European horses Improved their canals

9. Economic RomeBothHan China Pax romana (a time of great stability) increased trade Prosperous middle class because gov’t didn’t interfere as much with the economy Latifundias (using slaves instead of small farmers) brings down the republic because creates a large pool of unemployed small farmers Agriculture was the main economic activity and source of wealth Used the Silk Road Networking (roads connected people and made trading easier) Most important export was silk Not much chance for mobility within the classes or in the economy because of more gov’t control on merchants Didn’t use latifundias

10. Decline  Both ended because of external powers (Germanics brought down the Romans; nomads—“barbarians”—that were later related to the Mongols brought down Han China) and also divisions within the empire itself (protection was expensive so increased taxes caused civilians to turn to protection from landowners instead)  Rome split into the Byzantine Empire and the Western Empire  Han China went into a period of political fragmentation until the rise of the Sui Dynasty in the late 6th century  Han China traditions and classes eventually came back through other empires in China; this revision never happened with Roman culture, politics, etc.