Premium Essay

Han and Rome

In:

Submitted By jcthebeast
Words 780
Pages 4
Jonathan Cano period 3
11/26/11
So what were the views of the Han and roman on technology how were they similar? how did they differ? There are many different ways to approach this theme. the government officials of china and Rome have their own views on this idea as the philosophers. These "powerhouses" also have another very important similarity they both were constructed at around the same time but had very little if any at all contact with each other. The way both places think is also a contributing factor on their view toward technology. Han china has philosophers and upperclassmen who don't necessarily advise the emperor but where pro-technology. The Romans also had philosophers and upperclassmen who played a part in describing the technology of this time and were not in the government. But both Rome and Han also had both upperclassmen or philosophers who were in the government that were either pro- or anti-technology. The Han’s view of technology was predominantly self-glorifying; with good reason as the Chinese invented everything from paper to acupuncture. The Han seemed to feel that technology was about helping the people. As demonstrated in the letter in document 1, the first goal of technology is to ward off disaster, in this case a flood. This demonstrates a concern for the people giving the impression that technology is there to aid the Chinese. This impression is increased by the obvious concern shown by Huan Guan in the second document, where he writes about the problems the lack of technology, such as iron plows, is having on the people. Huan Guan points out how technology has become useless as the tools are poor quality and ineffective all around, so the main concern with the Han about technology is its usefulness. Huan Tan begins the hints of self-glorification with statements such as “The benefit was increased a hundredfold.”

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Differences in Ancient Rome and Han China

...Han China and Classical Rome When comparing Han China and Classical Rome, many political, geographical, and religious similarities can be found, though many differences are also prevalent. Though Roman and Han political structures both emphasized bureaucracies, they came to them quite differently. Through copious amounts of expansion, both societies spread culture and earned money, though expansion was eventually their downfalls. Their religions differed immensely, with Rome emphasizing polytheism and Han China focusing on Confucianism. The differences and similarities between these two civilizations are to be discussed in this essay. Though both Rome and the Han dynasty were bureaucracies, both respective bureaucracies were quite different. For example, Han China had a centralized emperor (best know was Wu Ti) who set forth a certain curriculum that each bureaucrat would have to adhere to to become a leader. This curriculum was taught at specialized schools for the rich, though sometimes poor, and talented young men that one day wanted to become a bureaucrat. These bureaucrats carried out the laws of the emperor, so the people had very little say so. On the other hand, Classical Rome had a quite different system. Starting out as a local monarchy, Rome changed to a republic quite early in its expansion. they had a Senate of aristocrats that would make laws. From this Senate, two consuls were elected to be its leader. A dictator of Rome was only elected during times of emergency...

Words: 944 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Han China And Rome Comparison Essay

...Both the Romans and the people of Han China in the time period of around 206 B.C.–9 A.D. flourished as they came out with new technology and new ideas. Being of different cultures, religions, etc, their ideas about improvement and advancement were different. This of course did not stop change from coming, but it did adjust how it was viewed by these two very different people. The Han were eager about the practicality of new technology, while the Romans had more artistic purposes for it and a more negative attitude towards it The people of Han China often looked toward their government to support the transition of new technology, but even this was not fully agreed upon. A Han government official writes about the role of the government in bringing about revise to the waterways, a step to help prevent flood damage...

Words: 1011 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Similarities Between Han China And Imperial Rome

...Imperial Rome and Han China were two of the most powerful empires to ever exist. In order to maintain their positions of political power, it was imperative that the rulers of each empire had a way of maintaining unity and controlling the populace. Though they had different forms of government- Rome was a republic, which allowed the people some influence, and Han China was a bureaucracy with one overall leader -each had a unique approach of asserting political control among the population, using varying forms of religion, centralized government, and entertainment for the citizens. 1- Religion: Politically and culturally, religion played an extremely important part in providing political control for both Imperial Rome and Han China. However, both the religions and the way they were used to benefit each empire varied greatly in order to serve the...

Words: 844 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Han China And Imperial Rome Comparison Essay

...During the Classical period, c. 206 BCE to 476 CE, two powerful regimes existed, the Han dynasty in Asia and Imperial Rome in Europe. Although these countries were very far in distance and only came in contact through trade, both empires were strong and well organized due to this Rome and Han China both had great success. The Han dynasty lasted for roughly 426 years, while Imperial Rome lasted 507 years, and through their long reigns, they were able to achieve great advancements in technology and economy. Han China and Imperial Rome, both had a powerful central government with well-organized bureaucracies, the fall of these dynasties was because of over expansion and taxation of land. However, the overall political structure of these regimes were different because Han China’s bureaucratic system and Rome’s bureaucratic system were controlled by...

Words: 635 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Compare And Contrast The Empires Of Han China And Rome

...Han China emerged as an empire in 206 BCE, and many years later a new central power known as the Roman Empire arose in western Europe in 207 BCE. The imperial Han and the Roman empires are one of the most influential empires to ever exist, so influential that they are often thought of as the building blocks of many governments today. Both empires had both similar and different traits and characteristics that contributed to their success and failure. As the empires faced more threats they began to start wars, which eventually lead to their expansion. Also, both Han China and Rome were both well organized bureaucracies, but only Han China was founded on a major school of thought or central idea. There was no Roman equivalent of Confucianism,...

Words: 298 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Essay Comparing Han China And Imperial Rome

...The Roman Empire and the Han Dynasty were two very important empires that reigned in history. These empires, Imperial Rome from 31 B.C.E.-476 C.E. and Han China from 206 B.C.E.-220 C.E., had many similarities, but they also had many differences. The techniques of imperial administration in both Han China and Imperial Rome contained strong central governments. In contrast, after the downfall of these Empires, Han China was able to rebuild their imperial model by their set conduct of life, while Rome was never able to completely reunify because of weak political organization through their religion. The Roman Empire and Han China both had strong central governments. Rulers in both empires secured power by taking over former rulers and their...

Words: 703 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Compare And Contrast Han China And Rome

...The Han and Roman empires were the most powerful in their times. Throughout their existence they developed many difference and similarities in their political structure, social classes, and their food and trading ways which could have developed their attitudes towards the different technological inventions. The Han Empire grew different attitudes towards their technology because of the locations. For the production of new technology the Han needed to have craftsman make new tools, that would benefit all classes mainly agriculturists. With agriculture being so important to the Han dynasty they needed ways to conserve water for the huge empire they had because they had constant flood occurring. In document 1 it states how the Han dynasty...

Words: 273 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Han China Research Paper

...Comparison of Food Between Han Dynasty China and Ancient Rome By Joaquin Velazquez 2/7/2024 Ancient Rome and Han Dynasty China were very similar empires, despite being seven and a half thousand kilometers away from each other. The two empires' food and meat were far different. According to Jacqueline M Newman, in her text, “Han Dynasty Foods” (2005), “Among the meat and poultry items, or parts thereof, are chicken, crane, deer, dog, duck, frog (bamboo chicken), goose, hare, magpie, ox, pheasant, pigeon, sheep, sparrow, and turtledove.” There were a great deal of meats that the citizens of China feasted on and enjoyed. Ancient Rome ate very little meat,...

Words: 1590 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Han Dynasty Dbq

...Both the Han Dynasty of China and the Roman Empire of Italy were huge territories, with Rome being over 1 million square miles, that were greatly advanced in many fields. They had armies that conquered many lands, they had governments which appeased and governed large masses of people. However, what may be most interesting is their development of technology. In the first and second centuries, both the great empires of Rome in Italy and the Han in China had technology to accommodate their numerous populations but both of their attitudes towards technology were different as they viewed and utilized manual labor differently. Their different attitudes led to different developments in their technology, but both eventually saw a decline toward the...

Words: 1398 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Hieu 201

...THE ROMANS AND CHINA Robert King HIEU 201-B05 September 29th, 2014 The West and East both had major super powers at the same time. The Romans in the West and the Han Dynasty in the East. Both had no idea how large the other was. The Roman Empire and the Han Dynasty both had created strong government systems, military and had vast technology advancement. Though they had major differences, they both made a lasting impression on Eastern and Western civilization as we know it today At the height of the Roman Empire it had close to nineteen provinces stretching as far as Syria. "The simple mention of the Roman Empire is sometimes enough to conjure up an image of something that is immensely stable." Roman's had an emperor which ultimately controlled everything. As same to the Han dynasty the emperor came to power with no regards to the law. The Roman empire had a different way to govern a provinces and a cities. they had some freedom on running their government but always had to pay tax and had to take command from a assigned governor. Then Han dynasty like the Roman's used their military power to take over their land. At the height of the Han dynasty they had thirty-one districts, creating law, currency, a weight system and a measurement system. These systems where to overtake old ones in all of the China. This did not go as well as the Romans approach. The Roman empire took control of areas but did not try and change their culture as much. They still had their own...

Words: 1662 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Life of Realigion

...Decline of the Roman/Han/Gupta Empires Diverse Interpretations Assignment COMPARISONS TO FOCUS ON: * The causes for the decline of the Roman, Han and Gupta Empires * Understanding of how and why the collapse of the empire was more severe in Western Europe than it was in the Asian Empires. * Comparison of the role that religions played in the declines * The impact of missionary outreach of the Christians and Buddhists in these empires RESOURCES * Upshur – “The Decline of Empires” * Stearns - Decline of Empires. * Frank Smitha - “Decline and Fall” * Johnson and Johnson – “Why Don’t Empires Last?” * Spodek – “China and Rome: How do they compare?” * Bulliet pages 168-170 and 186-189. ASSIGNMENT 1. Construct a Venn comparing and contrasting the causes for decline of the Roman, Han and Gupta empires. Information will come from the documents and not the lecture…you already wrote the lecture notes once, why write them again? Rome Han similarities Gupta 2. Write 3 comparative analytical mini-paragraphs about the decline of empires. (generalization, facts, analysis…) Remember that analysis answers the question “why?” Example: The AP World History teachers have very different tastes in beverages. Ms. Forswall likes tea while Ms. Patch likes cola. Green tea and Earl Grey are Ms. Forswall’s favorites; they taste nothing like Pepsi or Coke because soft drinks are much sweeter. Ms. Patch usually chooses a diet style of...

Words: 7121 - Pages: 29

Free Essay

Political Power

...2010 Political Power of Han China and Imperial Rome Political differences are what make cultures unique. Depending on the methods of political control and diverse ways of living societies can be harmed, hindered or improved. The rough military dictatorship of Imperial Rome and the peaceful Confucius way of control by Han china show two different ways a civilization can grow, thrive, survive and eventually fall. Political, moral, personal, and religious values influence a nation’s way of life and people. The differences between the militaristic Imperial Rome and the Confucius ways of Han China ultimately made the empires culture flourish and become distinctive, changing their beliefs, moral code, faith, and overall individuality and led to their diversity in political control. The rulers of these empires played a big role in the ways of control and the variation in their culture. Octavian the military dictator had control of his armies; therefore they were loyal to him. Emperor Wu also ruled as a military campaigner. These two rulers had similar interests in which they ruled by. Wu worked on expanding his army and spreading china. Octavian being from the army himself ruled through the army and expanded militaristic ideas. They both made for successful ruling. While China was ruled under Confucianism Rome had suppressed religion. Religion was spread freely within china because they all shared the same beliefs and faith. On the other hand Rome hadn’t established a religion...

Words: 251 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Dbq Han China

...cetera. In the fall of Han China and the Roman Empire, one is able to see all of the contributing factors to the collapse of an empire as large and important as these. The internal workings of the empire had a lot to do with the staying power of the dynasty. If the government was well managed then the empire would be successful, and if not, as most were not, the empire would be sent into a downward spiral. In Han China, the lack of ability to work as a cohesive group...

Words: 470 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

How Has The Trade Affected By The Silk Road?

...between major countries. The empires that benefitted from the trade route are the Han Dynasty of China, Rome, Mesopotamia, India and Egypt. The Chinese created silk, paper and gun powder which made them beneficial to the trade route because they had many countries interested in forming a trade with them. The created empire during the Silk Road trade is Greco- Bactrian who was form by the Macedonian warriors having relationships with the indigenous population. During the Silk Road trades, many countries would use the camel as a transportation method of moving goods to the route in order to make deals with other countries. Buddhism benefitted from the Silk Road by expanding their religion over the Chinese, Central Asia and India....

Words: 540 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Han China Technology Dbq Essay

...Technology is an important part of civilization today. During their time, the Han dynasty and the Roman empire both used technology, but their views on it were different. While the Han dynasty thought highly of technology, especially the advancement of it, there were mixed opinions about technology in the Roman empire. The Han dynasty saw technology as an advancement that can help the government and the peasants. For example, during second century B.C.E., a Han government official wrote to other local officials concerning flood prevention (doc. 1). He gave details on how the waterways could be inspected to stop floodings in their district and how everyone can contribute to help China. He felt that technology was advanced enough to prevent floods and that it was not the technology that was lacking, but the organization of technology was. Another official, Huan Guan, wrote about how...

Words: 895 - Pages: 4