Comparing two emperors, one Chinese and one Roman - Essay Example

Comparing two emperors, one Chinese and one Roman Introduction Over the years, the world has experienced great kingdoms or empires that have used different methods to maintain their power and conquering other empires. In this essay, we will explore while comparing and contrasting two great empires in history. This essay compares the Han Empire that dominated in China and brought a united Chinese country and the dominant, largest and greatest empire in the world’s history known as the Roman Empire1. The empires have several similarities and differences. The essay will thus identify, discuss and offer a conclusion, which is mainly based on the key contributions of the empires to shape the current world. The essay will provide a proper comparison of the empires: the time and location of the empires, their governance, social composition, economic activities, culture, arts, their strengths and weaknesses. Finally, we will cover the similarities and differences of their fall. This essay will compare and contrast the Roman Empire and Han China. The empires used different ways to exist and expand; they existed at different historical eras. Formation, location, and growth of the two empires The Roman Empire began around 1000BCE and its power began from ruling the ancient villages around the city of Rome. In its earlier years of formation the empire was a monarchy but after the overthrowing of Etruscans in 509 BCE the empire turned to a republic and the Romans started their tyrant rules and governance. This essay will cover only the rule of Julius Caesar since this was the backbone of the success of the empire. The Roman Empire headquarters were in Rome and when Julius Caesar was in power, it conquered parts of Europe, Asia and Africa. It became one of the largest empires in history2. The Han China Empire came to power after overthrowing the Qin whose reign was short lived. Qin had abolished feudalism and thus overthrown by Han who ruled from 140-87 BCE. The ruler of the Han was known as Wu Ti3. Unlike the Roman Empire the Han Empire did not start as a monarchy since there were magistrate-rule who ensured who was to be the ruler. There are similarities between Han and Roman Empires in the essence of size of the empire and the acquirement of land to enlarge their empires. Han Empire used his power in the formation of a unified China, then started taking over the neighboring locations. The difference of the growth and acquisition of more land was not as brutal as that used by the Romans. The growth of the Roman Empire was based on conquering any empire that was beginning to gain power and seemed as a threat to the Roman Empire. This is contrary in comparison of the Han Empire since it only expanded its territory as colonies where they could gain from exploiting the natives. The Han Empire was made up of people with a common language as the territory involved the Chinese, Vietnamese and Koreans4. This is different with the territory invaded by the Romans since the Roman Empire expanded its territory in Asia, Europe and Africa. In the vast growth of the Roman Empire, citizenship was adopted from Greece since they were neighbors. This was a notion not known in China until the later years. The similarities and differences of governance There are similarities in the governance of Roman and Han Empires since both empires used military power to enhance the growth of their empires. Julius Caesar was a known dictator who used his power to oppress his servants and soldiers were the delegates of the emperor. This is quite different from the rule of Wu Ti since he followed the magistrate law that was used in China even prior to his rule. The use of soldiers and marital experts by Wu Ti in the northern parts of his empire was a strategy to colonize the neighboring territories and is similar to the conquering tactics used by Caesar. Comparison of the social, culture and beliefs of Han and Roman Empires The Han’s culture was based on the Confusion values as a state orthodox. Confusion values provided the basis of central government. These values linked the borderlines of the elite and the common people. The culture of the Romans was different since they did not use any values but they also had different classes of citizens. The elite class of the Hans is similar to the first class citizens of the Romans since the elite composed of the administrators in the government, the rich and people from the hierarchy of rulers of the empires. The culture of the Romans is very different and is mainly based in the Greece philosophy and other Latin cultures5. The Roman culture was more diversified in comparison with the Hans culture mainly due to the different locations and interactions within the empire. The two empires had beliefs although they were different since the Hans adopted Buddhism, Animism, Confusion and other gods. This was different in the Roman Empire whose beliefs were on their king as a god, paganism, Christianity and other polytheisms. Wu Ti tried to enforce his law on Confusion but it was evident that the people still had beliefs on magic6. The social settings as stated above were similar in the divisions into different classes. The Han’s society was a patriarchal system and extended family. The Hans lived in large homesteads since the extend family was the main setting of the family and respect of the elders was imminent because of the adoption of Confucianism7. The elite and educated class were administers in the government and acquired their wealth by exploiting the low class that composed of the artisans. Men were the heads of the family and the women had to be submissive to them. Polygamous was encouraged by the law and the female gender was oppressed. A man would marry as many wives as possible in order to have a son since daughters were valueless to him. The Romans on the other hand were similar in the essence of social class divisions but it differed with the Hans since the family was patriarchal-paterfamilias where the eldest male of the family had the authority over the other members of the family. Unlike in the Han Empire, women had more rights since a Roman woman had the right to divorce and own property which was not acceptable in the Han Empire8. Family in the two empires is similar in the sense of marriages since in both empires people from different social status could not marry. It is evident that the empires wanted the classes to be permanent. The Romans forbade polygamy thus differing with the Hans who were advocates of polygamy9. Comparison of the main economic activities of the Han and Roman Empire Agriculture was the main economic activity of the two empires. Both empires possessed large portions of land and engaged in slave trade thus ensured the slaves worked in their farms to produce food crops10. The major difference in agriculture between the two empires is the crops grown and the tactics used. Han’s method of agriculture was more developed since they used irrigation and the crops produced were also more prestigious in comparison with the Roman Empire who did not entirely relay on agriculture to boost their economy11. Han Empire produced iron and used technology to make iron weapons and crossbows. This was different since the Romans build roads to engage in trade but they also made glass, and used coins in their trade. Trade was the other similar economic activity between the two empires since they were involved in slave trade and weapon trade12. The items used in the trade were different since the Romans used coins to trade whereas Han Empire used metal products. The Hans monopolized in producing and selling silk and they gained most of their income from the silk. This is different since the Romans did not monopolize in a single product and they sold their olive oil, wine and used vast numbers of slaves in their trade13. The means of transportation was also different since the Romans had an efficient modern roads thus making trade between provinces in and out of the empire’s territory fast. This was not the case in the Han Empire since there were no improved roads and thus limiting their trade ventures. The similarities and differences of the fall of the empires The main similarity of the two empires is the fact that they collapsed due to related issues although at different times. The Roman Empire is one of the longest serving empires in the world but the continued greed of dominating the world created many enemies14. This led to many attacks in the administration and from the external world. The invasions from the barbarians-Germanic tribes and the need of to guard the large empire led to the weakening of the empire15. The Romans had a strong army during their existence but the increased invasions, which was easy due to the network of the road. The Western Europe Empires later defeated the weakened army. This proves that the Roman Empire fell mainly due to external invasions16. Han Empire collapsed in a similar way since the internal power struggles within the Empire destabilized the government and there were many uprisings opposing the Han central government. The uprisings became larger and stronger when the central government imposed high taxes to support their venture in defending the empire from the outside invaders17. The uprisings were secretive unlike in the Roman Empire where the opposition of the government was evident18. Conclusion The falling of the empires may have happened many centuries ago but they brought civilization and other values that are still essential in the world today. The romans laid the foundation of using coins in trade and this led to the improvement of different currencies used today. The Roman roads are also the beginning of the modern roads thus the kingdom was the architect of the roads network that are still essential in the world today although they have been improved. The Hans method of agriculture is still in use in China and in the world at large where some crops are grown using irrigation method. The Han Empire adopted Confucianism in their governance; the use of Confucianism is still in use in China. It has helped the current population of China to live in harmony and successful19. The negative activities used by the rulers of the empires are a lesson for a better world today. In both empires, the leaders were dictators, led by their greed for power and oppressed their subjects for the wellbeing of the elite class. The world today has no room for such leaders and the formation of the United Nations and other International Organizations helps the world to get rid of such leaders20. Inequality is portrayed in both empires although in later years the Roman Empire imposed some female rights unlike Han Empire that had no room for women rights. The world today is trying to ensure equality although some of the Chinese are still in the medieval period and do not value women. Equality has ended slavery, which was used in these empires. Works Cited Cline, Eric H, and Mark W. Graham. Ancient Empires: From Mesopotamia to the Rise of Islam. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2011. 145-153. Duiker, William J, and Jackson J. Spielvogel. The Essential World History. Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth, 2008. 105-111. Fomenko, A. T. History, Fiction or Science: Chronology. Douglas, Isle of Man, U.K: Delamere, 2003. 210-214. Gibbon, Edward, and David Womersley. The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. London: Penguin Books, 2005. 271-276. Harrison, Thomas. The Great Empires of the Ancient World. Los Angeles, Calif: J. Paul Getty Museum, 2009. 182-186. Shankman, Steven. Early China, Ancient Greece: Thinking Through Comparisons. Albany: State Univ. of New York Press, 2002. 180-184. Transactions of the Royal Historical Society: Xxi. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2011. Print. 234-240. Wells, Peter S. The Barbarians Speak — How the Conquered Peoples Shaped Roman Europe. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1999. 250-265. Read More