Han and Roman Empire

Kendall Cowart
11-14-11
1A
Han and Roman technology
Dating back to the second century B.C.E. to 200C.E. technology has always been important in advancing empires. Both Han and Romans were successful in advancing in technology, however when it comes to the Hans dynasty their attitudes on labor and manufacturing was more positive and open. The Han’s wanted good efficiency in not only tools but also needed technology to prevent natural disasters. While on the other hand the Romans thought of the technology and work of crafts men to be vulgar. The Romans were dependent on technology to get them their resources and for travel.
The appreciation that the Han people felt for their technology was much different than those of the Romans All of the Han documents are from a scholars point of view which means they have some knowledge of Confucianism. This promotes the idea of favoring the working class’s and making their labor more efficient. As Haun Tan says in document three that these tools had benefits and were also efficient. This shows that they cared about how it these tools would affect the people actually using them and how the advances in technology benefitted the users. Han officials in document one were concerned about how their technology advances in tools could affect them as whole.
They wanted to make sure that all natural disasters were avoided if possible and always wanted to have men on duty in case something goes wrong. The Hans specific instructions on water conservation show their determination for efficiency. It also goes on to talk about how in 200 C.E.(doc 4)   Tu Shih was concerned about his people and the labor they had to undergo in doing so he wanted to save the common peoples labor. In doing so he came up with a blowing-engine that was powered by water to cast iron so the common people would have only small amounts of labor. A document from a working class would help in the analyzing of these documents because it would give us as the reader... [continues]

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