Age of Empires: Rome & Han China

753 BCE-600 CE

Imperial Rome and Han China

• Both lasted approximately 400 years• Both had populations of about 50 million

Rome• Natural protections-central location• Able to utilize manpower resources

of Italy• Mediterranean=“Roman Lake”• Hilly, fertile arable land• Many navigable rivers

Han China• Natural protections-relative isolation• Large landmass • River systems, plateau, deserts, mnts• North China plain-fertile but

required extensive irrigation

Origins of Empire

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

Rome built on aristocratic landlords expanding out from a city-state

GovernmentRome

• 1st ruled by Kings, then republican oligarchy

• Augustus set model for Emperor- established Principate-a military dictatorship-cult of emperor

• Well organized bureaucracy founded on Roman law & classical learning-used local officials

• “Standing Army”- best trained, best fed

• Slave labor• Built extensive road system for

military but also spread commerce & culture

• Enemies on borders• 1st persecuted then adopted

Christianity

Han China

• Dynastic Mandate-Emperor was “Son of Heaven”

• Well organized bureaucracy founded on Confucian ideas & traditions-used local officials

• Emperor promulgated the law• Military & civilian conscription• Built extensive road system for

military but also spread commerce and culture

• Enemies on borders• Adopted Confucianism • Used Confucian scholars as

government officials

Politics

Rome• Citizenship• Laws established by

“Twelve Tables”

Han China• No idea of citizenship• Law promulgated by

Emperor

Militarism: Both emphasized territorial expansion

Roman Empire Han China

Perceived threats to security led to wars and conquests, which only increased the length of borders and led to more perceived threats…which

led to more conquests…

Economic

Ancient Rome• Agriculture-”latifundia”-large estates

owned by wealthy• Significant slave labor• Received revenue from percentage of

annual harvest• Degree of economic mobility for

middle classes

Han China• Agriculture-Gentry-large estates owned

by wealthy• Significant population growth• Agriculture directed by government;

monopolies on iron, salt • Received revenue from percentage of

annual harvest• Merchants & peasants paid taxes in coin

cash & land taxes with portion of crop

Rome• Merchants were 2nd rate

occupation• Trade flourished: “Pax Romana”• Silk, spices• Coin Currency

Han China• Merchants: Itinerant, large scale, traveled

extensively, often wealthy, special privileges • Merchants: marketplace-low status• Unprecedented growth in commerce industry• tributary exchanges w/ foreign countries• Coin currency• Government owned shops that competed

with itinerant merchants to reduce their economic power

Urbanization

Rome• Rome• Model for other cities• Prominent marketplace: Forum• Wealth derived from conquest• Colosseum, Pantheon,

Hippodrome, Baths•

Han China• Chang’an & Luoang• Model for other cities• Prominent marketplace• Wealth derived from private

commerce, new trade routes, handicraft industries

• Prominent marketplaces

Technology

Rome• Roads, bridge-building,

ballistic weapons• elevated & underground

aqueducts• arches & domes• amphitheaters• sewage systems• concrete

Han China• Roads, canals, Great Wall• Astronomical observations• Watermills• Horse collar• Paper, crossbow trigger• Early seismometer

Integrating the empiresInfrastructure:• Massive road building

projects linked crucial parts of the empires

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

• Rome – invented concrete & engineered feats like aqueducts

Yep – that’s a Roman Road, still around today. Looking good after 2,000 years.

Mechanisms for Political Integration: China

• Confucianism identified principles necessary for political & social order

• Emphasized emperors’ divine majesty, links to Heaven, morality through correct ritual (ancestor veneration

• Developed a sophisticated bureaucracy with gov’t officials in provinces (staffed by middle class)

• Imperial Academy & exam system meant ALL areas of China were cohesive & Confucian

Mechanisms for Political Integration: Rome

• Bureaucracy less complex than Han – relied on local elites & middle class to control provinces

• Greater emphasis on law codes- common legal system

• Monuments & triumphal processions played up glory of empire & rulers

• Cult of deceased Emperors

Citizenship & Colonies: China

• Large colonies of ethnically Han (northern) Chinese planted in newly conquered territories

• Use of Mandarin language required by elites & bureaucrats

• Ideology of Confucianism enforced by the central authority

Citizenship & Colonies: Rome

• Colonies were military outposts-not intended for population integration

• Latin encouraged but never took over Greek in East (people STILL looked up to Greek culture)

• Expansion of Roman citizenship given for army service

• Loose control-more local autonomy

Imperial Power

• Both systems expanded functions of government•Used bureaucracy & taxation to provision major cities & increased coercion with military• Both governments actively engaged in economic activity designed to ensure stability • Han=monopoly on salt & iron•Rome=“Bread and Circuses”

Territorial ExpansionImperial Han China

• Pushed boundaries far beyond Qin homeland, but when reached sustainable point, did not feel need to compensate for cessation of expansion

• Labor force not reliant on slavery – peasant population made constant expansion less necessary

• Chinese script helped unify

Imperial Rome

• More militaristic• Needed additional territory as

source of wealth & to pay soldiers

• Needed continuing supply of slaves for labor system

• Latin language helped unify• Provided opportunity for Roman

citizenship

Family & Society

Rome• Basic unit of society=the family• Paterfamilias exercised absolute

authority • High status males elicited obedience• Ancestors/family name important• Inequality accepted, institutionalized• Reliance on patricians• Patron-client relationships-system of

mutual benefit & obligation

Han China• Basic unit of society=family• Emphasis on family ancestors-”filial

piety”• Family hierarchy reflected in society• Ancestors played active role in

everyday life• Reliance on landowning gentry

Role of Women

Rome• Patriarchal• No public role• Unable to own property or

represent self in legal matters• Depended on male guardians• Less constrained than Greek

Women• Over time, gained rights &

protections• Some women very influential

Han China• Patriarchal-expected to be

obedient• Quality of life depended on

economics• Status & authority depended on

society • Royal women could be very

influential-Empress Dowager could over-ride decisions of Emperor

Religious/ Philosophical Systems

• Early, both focused on rituals & themes to instilled loyalty to empire- neither intensely spiritual

• Both exposed to new religions late in Classical Period (Buddhism in China, Christianity in Rome)

• Both incorporated elements of respective beliefs as methods of political control

Religion/Philosophical Systems

Rome (Paganism-Christian)

• Divination• Polytheistic-adopted Greek

gods• Calendar revolved around

religious festivals• Invisible forces

called“numina”• Rituals sacrifices to maintain

Pax deorum-”peace of gods”• Christianity suppressed then

adopted as state religion

Han China (Shamanistic-Confucian)

• Divination• Cult of Ancestors• Nature Spirits• Yin/Yang• Feng Shui• Confucianism-rituals &

relationships• Daoism-questioned

tradition-rejected hierarchy• Buddhism-syncretized as it

spread to China

Decline & Fall

Rome• Internal conflicts in military• Rivalries & divisions of

authority due to vast size• Division of Empire into East

and West• Christianity undermined

traditional values

Han China• Conflict within ruling elites• Peasant rebellions• Generals usurped

power=warlords-divide into 3 kingdoms

• Northern nomads

Decline of Imperial Rome and Han China• Overexpansion led to invasions by nomadic pastoralists• Tax based weakened as land (wealth) was concentrated into fewer hands-

paid less in taxes• Decline in morals/values• Urban decay=Decline in public health• Political corruption• Unemployment; inflation• Military spending• Lack of technological innovation• Western Roman cultural elements died out with the empire: change• Han dynasty was destroyed, but its institutions and traditions were revived

by later dynasties: continuity

Why Was China Revived and Rome Not?

• No Roman equivalent of Confucianism—no method or idea of political organization and social conduct that could survive the breakdown of the Roman state

• Dynasties come & go, but Confucianism continues• Roman culture blended with Germanic to create new traditions• Many Roman characteristics continued into Byzantine Empire: law,

Christianity, & military organization, etc.