Top-Rated Free Essay
Preview

Comparative Essay Han Dynasty and Roman Empire

Good Essays
808 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Comparative Essay Han Dynasty and Roman Empire
Both the Han dynasty and the Roman Empire were bureaucratic. The central rulers all eventually became hereditary and both empires had rulers that oppressed the peasants in order to boost political control. However, the two empires differ in that the emperors had varying justifications for ruling and rose to power in different ways. The Han Dynasty and The Roman Empire both were able to expand and develop their empires with their distinctive governing methods and control. To China, the centerpiece that supervised everything was knows as Confucianism. With all dependability focused on the emperor and society serving as a family unit, Han China's political system was known for a centralized, closed unit. It was ruled by an emperor who greatly observed the Mandate of Heaven. The Han developed a supply of soldiers, which kept their borders secured and made them capable to exchange with others from time to time. On the other hand, Rome had a centralized, blended structure. The main focus points of the Roman Society were operated by a Roman Republic, which was more like a monarchy, who controlled their complex structure. The Roman Society had more residents and rights than the Hans, Roman's political control lay in the hands of the wealthy, which then they were elected to a political seat. The governors were picked from family networks. The only way Romans could accomplish anything big in a certain time span was to make strong changes in their community. It was an enormous weight on Rome's resources and power, when they had to stress over big wins. For example, when there was barely any food to support the developing empire. The Romans and the Hans both had their wealthiest people control over their peasants, which caused a social distribution to each and every one, and could have leaded to outbreaks in little battles, wars between the communities, and what not. This was entirely not beneficial on each empire's part and especially their social interaction. The political structures of both Rome and Han China were based on bureaucratic systems with a strong monarchy set of succession. They strengthened their control by reducing the land holdings of old aristocratic families. However, the reversal of this process led to breakdown of authority in the central government. During its reign of power, the central bureaucracy promoted trading with neighboring societies. However, Rome was more aggressive with its role in trading in the Mediterranean verses Han China’s river trade. Rome’s trade led to a much greater technology, culture, and general transfer of knowledge in areas surrounding the Mediterranean which in turn led to a much longer lasting influence on the world. Under the Han Dynasty, the power of the emperor and bureaucracy were emphasized. The organized structure of government allowed such a large territory to be effectively governed, even though it was the largest political system in the world at the time. The Han's political framework stressed male dominated families. Han rulers didn't support local warrior-landlords, believing that they were corrupt. Because bureaucracy was so important, civil service exams were first given, a tradition that would be incorporated into modern politics. Not only did bureaucracy effectively govern, but it had a sort of checks and balance on the upper class. Chinese bureaucracy from the Han Dynasty lasted well into the twentieth century. The imperial government sponsored intellectual life, such as astronomy and mathematics. Han rulers promoted Confucianism, with the idea that they were in charge of their subjects' beliefs. The administration also took part in the economy. It organized production, standardized currency and measures, sponsored public works like canal systems and irrigation, and tried to regulate agricultural supplies to control price increases. The Roman republic allowed all citizens to meet in assemblies to elect magistrates. The most important legislative body was the Senate, made up of aristocrats. Public service and participation, political ethics, uncorrupt government, and oratory were extremely important. Roman leaders were very tolerant of local customs and religions and believed that well-made laws could hold the lands together. Aristocratic leaders supported legal codes to protect private property as well as their poor subjects. It was a sort of check on the upper class. They believed that laws should evolve to keep up with the demands of the changing society. Imperial law codes also controlled property rights and trade. The law of the land was fair and equal for everyone, for the most part. The Roman government also supported public works like roads and harbors to facilitate transport and commerce. It also supported an official religion, but tolerated others as long as they didn't interfere with loyalty to the state.

Unlike the Chinese, the Romans didn't emphasize as much on hierarchy, obedience, or bureaucracy, but more on participation. However, some of the Romans' political writing did resemble Confucianism. Both governments also supported government funded public works.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Han China and Imperial Rome had some Similarities. Both Han China and Imperial Rome had very large empires that it was difficult to manage their boarders and often faced threats. Both Empires were patriarchal societies and kept women in low status with no say in political affairs. Both Han China and Imperial Rome were ruled by one centralized ruler. Both empires had standardized coins to promote…

    • 287 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Roman Empire and Han Dynasty were different politically. The Roman Empire was founded on imported agriculture and didn’t have a set bureaucracy. While the emperor of Rome appointed some advisors the government lacked many institutions, such as a planned budget. Apart from the emperor and senate the Romans didn’t have other levels of government; because of this the farther reaches of the Roman Empire had more autonomy. The Han was founded on strict legalism and had a well organized bureaucracy. Even though the emperor had absolute power, institutions such as the Three Councilors of State and Nine…

    • 382 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Han China chose the middle path between the two diverse methods of government and pursued the policies of administrative centralization and imperial expansion. In contrast, Imperial Rome centralized political and military power which coincided with the preservation of traditional republican offices and form of government. The Han government believed that the network of political alliances in the Zhou Dynasty caused chaos between states, but the tightly woven Qin dynasty diminished the reason for imperial family members the sustain the empire. Han China was preferably divided into administrative districts that were governed by officials. These officials reached the emperor’s expectations, but allowed his authority over them while the bureaucrats implied his policies. Although, original forms of governing were adjusted in both places; the military responded directly to the emperor or ruler to avoid the problems caused by generals commanding personal armies. Imperial Rome progressed, from a previous dictatorship, by fashioning a centralized political government and unifying military power. Imperial Rome, in comparison to Han china, handled governmental functions with more concern. The Roman Emperor accrued copious amounts of power for himself and took complete responsibility during these times.…

    • 514 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Han China and Imperial Rome's government were similar due to the fact that they were ruled under one central leader. Han China had an emperor, who would enforce policies. Imperial Rome had a republic because they felt as though a monarchy did no good to the people. Although, the Senate of Rome had most of the power over the citizens. The differences between their rule was that in Han China the lower class citizens did not have any say on how they were ruled, while in Imperial Rome the plebeians, ordinary people, had representatives in the Senate, tribunes. Another difference between Han China and Imperial Rome is that, in Han China the emperor was chosen through family(hereditary), while in Rome they chose their ruler.…

    • 491 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Imperial Rome and Han China had some similarities and differences in their foundation. In the eight century B.C.E., Rome began as a small city-state on the western side of Italy. Originally they were a monarchy but in 509 B.C.E. they knocked off the monarchy and made themselves republic. In their republic system, the wealthy class, known as patricians, dominated. The lower class was called plebeians. The Romans had laws that protected the lower class form abuse. The Romans took great pride in their system, believing it gave them more freedom. With this political system, the Romans launched their empire, a process that took more than 500 years. The Chinese were not building a new empire yet they were restoring the old. The Chinese empire started as early as 2200 B.C.E. By 5oo B.C.E. the Chinese state was in shambles which they considered as the warring states, which were seven kingdoms within the Chinese government fighting against each other. China finally reunified in 221 B.C.E. Han China and Imperial Rome are similar because they both flourished at about the same time (200 B.C.E. – 200 C.E.), conquered about the same amount of land (about 1.5 million square miles), and had about the same population (50 to 60 million). The reason for the similarities and differences in the foundation in both of the empires was because Rome was a new empire while the Han dynasty was just restoring the old but they were still the dame due to their similarity in the time era both empires flourished, they occupied a similar area, and they contained a similar population.…

    • 644 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Han Dynasty and the Roman Empire both had a great influence not only on its people but the world as a whole. The two had similar and different methods of political control. Both ruled their people under a bureaucracy, they had civil servants to maintain their large empires, and their foundations were made of great and strong rulers. Aside from the similarities they also had several differences. Take China for example, they focused more on Confucianism and they had a Mandate of Heaven. Rome on the other hand used entertainment to distract and control the masses of its population.…

    • 1170 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    While Han China and Imperial Rome possess distinct differences, for example, the effects of their collapse and their religious views in government, the similarities between the two are still there, like, the cause of their falls and the ways of leadership over their empires. The Romans and the Han, though they appear very different at a glance do have their similarities. Despite being far in distance, the empires were both different and the same throughout their history and in their untimely…

    • 887 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Since Imperial Rome and the Han dynasty were taking places at relatively the same time, they have many similarities. But considering the distance and isolation from each other, many differences also occurred. Both Rome and Han China used technology to improve their empire, but changing your social class rank was very difficult in China, but a bit easier in Rome.…

    • 366 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Imperial Rome and Han China are both well recognized empires, known as strong and fairly successful. Although the empires had some differences they also had similarities in their methods of political control. Similarities between these empires include the belief that leaders had connections to God, religious tolerance, and public works provided to citizens. Along with the similarities in political control the differences include Rome having a democracy while China had a centralized bureaucracy, Rome had lesser domestic repercussions while China had harsh punishments, and Rome offered assimilation to become a citizen while China did not need to offer assimilation because it conquered states that were already chinese.…

    • 640 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Han dynasty and Roman Empire are somewhat similar and also have some differences. Both civilizations have very strong central governments which allowed for powerful and expanding kingdoms. One of the main differences between the two empires was their religions. The Roman Empire and Han dynasty were has lots of inventions and technology. Roman and Han dynasty built major roads to help support a growing dependence on trade. In Han dynasty women were had limited to domestic activities. They also have arranged marriages. Whereas in roman dynasty women had right to do everything.…

    • 576 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Imperial administration in Imperial Rome from 31 B.C.E. to 476 C.E and Han China from 206 B.C.E to 220 C.E. had both their similarities and differences. Similarities include general idea of equality, living under one ruler who gives the people some control, and the roles of families. One major difference is the method of political control with religion, and the way their leaders were selected.…

    • 386 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Han China (206 B.C.E.- 220 C.E.) and Imperial Rome (31 B.C.E. - 476 C.E.) were each amazing civilizations in their own ways. Each dynasty made many great ecological and technological advancements. Additionally, the governments of these civilizations each had ways of maintaining the political control over their subjects. The Han Dynasty of China and Imperial Rome’s methods of political control were similar in many ways (including their use of centralized governments and their uses of their military) and many differences (including the roles of citizens in the government and the governments techniques for keeping the lower classes happy) but I believe the similarities outweigh the differences because while the differences are definite ways to control the people, the similarities listed have been much more long-lasting and are also much more essential to this type of control.…

    • 775 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    While both empires had many great rulers who paved the way for greatness there were some people in power that, because of there greediness, caused the downfall of their empire. The Roman Empire and Han Dynasty both fell because of their corrupt leaders.…

    • 666 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    To begin with, decentralization occurred and upper classes’ values in both societies changed. In Han China, landlords ruled their neighborhoods according to their wishes. In Rome, farmers gathered under the protection of landlords. The decentralization occurred because in both societies, the central government was weakening and quality of imperial rule was declining so landlords became the source of power. Another reason was that in Han China, bureaucrats were becoming corrupt. In Rome, the upper class became more pleasure-seeking, and did not participate politically and economically. The upper classes’ shifting values caused the empires to crumble because they did not want what was contributing to the success of the empire, only to their personal gain.…

    • 455 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Roman empire and the Han empire collapsed for similar reasons as well as some different reasons. Firstly, both Rome and China’s governments became an ineffective way to control an empire. Secondly, nomadic tribes invaded both Rome and China. These tribes broke into their respective empires and laid waste to the land. Yet differences exist between the collapse of the two empires. A large part of the collapse of Rome was due to inflation. The Han empire was not as affected by inflation as the Roman empire was. The external invasions that caused the collapse of the Roman empire and the Han empire could be compared to invasive species from the realm of Biology.…

    • 814 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays