Comparing/Contrasting Imperial Rome to Han China

Similarities & DifferencesUsing your SPECTS

The Basics:

Han = 206 BCE – 220 CE

Roman Empire 27 BCE – 476 CE

Both lasted approx 400 years

Both had populations of 50 million

Similar size territory

Geography Rome had a large “inland” sea (Mediterranean) for ease of

trade and travel. Well constructed roads made land travel and communication possible.

China was a land based empire. River travel, canals, roads had to be built and maintained for transportation and communication.

Territorial size of both was approx. 2.5 million at their peak

Territorial size of Rome was ultimately restricted by deserts (N. Africa/Middle East) and European mountains (Alps)

Han’s territorial size was limited by the Tibetan Plateau, western deserts (Gobi, Taklimakan), mountains (Himalayas, Tian Shan)

Origins

Han built off precedents of many previous dynasties Shang, Xhou, Qin

Rome built an empire “more from scratch”; some based on Greeks

Imperialism Both were imperialistic but Rome far more so

Militarism Both were threatened by nomadic invaders. Conquered

territories under imperial control.

Rome paid it’s soldiers with conquered land and captured wealth. Resulted in greater incentive to use military. Constantly sought to expand. Local leaders often remained in control under Roman supervision.

Economic

Both economies were based on agriculture Land was highly valued

Governments imposed taxes for revenue

Both standardized weights and measures, monopolized key resources i.e. salt, iron

China relied on peasants to do labor

Rome relied on slave labor (captives from war) up to 1/3 of pop.

Wealth more concentrated in small landowning population. Forced peasants to live in urban areas. Need for slave labor on latifundia.

Technology

Road building important to both. Roman roads were marvels of engineering. Facilitated trade, travel, military travel

Roman aqueducts, for irrigation, water delivery

Roman construction/architecture = monumental, grandeur

Chinese construction/architecture = practical, defensive, transportation

Political China

Confucianism, Mandate of Heaven, Civil Service Exam (some social mobility), emphasize homogeneous culture

Ritual ancestor veneration, ceremonial, educated gentleman class (Junzi), Ren, Li, Xiao

RomeLess centralized, built by overlaying

Roman law over local rulers and laws

Rome prided itself on establishing peace and rule of law through expansion

Venerated emperors “cult of worship”

Culture China

Focused on homogeneous culture building largely through Confucianism, promoting ethnically Han language, sending out bureaucratic officials to enforce

Rome

Looser, more diverse, cosmopolitan

More local autonomy, local leadership, greater diversity of language

Roman citizenship granted common rights

Culture

Patriarchal

Eldest male/father most respected, authoritative

China: family was model of gov’t organization i.e. emperor was “father” – Confucian ideology

Rome – emperor is not viewed as father figure; he is a god

Paterfamilias

Religion

Outside religion moves into each region China = Buddhism in later Han

Rome = Christianity

In both places the new religion is not officially welcomed. Through syncretism both gain mass conversions and official acceptance

Both are salvation religions i.e. seek to eternal life, heaven, nirvana etc…

Decline of Empires

Rome and ChinaThreatened by outside invasions of nomadic

(aka barbarian) forces related to the HunsBoth are weakened from overexpansion =

borders are too long/too expensive to defendWeakness signals to citizens decay

China “right to rebel”Rome - loss of support for Roman empire

Differences in Decline

Rome = civilization and institutions collapse

Loss of Latin language = rise of vernacular

Loss of Roman numerals and measures

Loss of basis for legal culture

China

Although government falls, language, culture, institutions will remain or be revived