Roman Empire / Han Empire
Compose an essay in which you compare: a) the growth of the Roman Empire in the West and the Han Empire in China; b) the ways that the lands and peoples of the empires were bound together by their respective legal, administrative and military institutions, and by their promotion of peace and prosperity. c) In regard to the imperial period of Rome (which began with Ceasar Augustus and the Principate), in what ways was the office of Roman ruler similar to and different from the office of the Han ruler? d) Your textbook argues that the Han dynasty established a Pax Sinica that was comparable to the Pax Romana. To what extent do you think are these two periods of peace comparable? In what respect are they not comparable? Source: Western Civilizations, Lerner, Meacham, Coffin, Stacey, (vol. I)
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Roman Empire / Han Empire
The Han and Roman Empires have some similarities in the manner in which they ruled their respective territories. They were one of the most-influential empires in the world during their period. The growth of the Han Empire, for instance, was propagated by the fall of its predecessor, the Qin Empire, around the period of 205 BC. In addition, its growth was also promoted in its strict principle of legality and the use of Chinese technology. Through these technologies, the Han Empire was able to create a strong culture and political foundation that saw this empire conquer an enormous geographical area around East Asia(Lerner et al 55). On the other hand, the growth of the Roman Empire was facilitated by the rise of technologies and innovations that were created around the western Mediterranean region. These technologies were widely used in agriculture and thus spread rapidly to the regions covered by this empire. Through its influence in technology and science the empire was able to set up legal rules and hence enhance its dominance in the region.
In order to promote their empires, the Roman, and the Han empires used legal, administrative and military tactics to rule, and promote peace and prosperity in their empires. For instance, the Han Empire used the scholars to develop technologies and that they used to impose certain rules in their empire. Furthermore, they used the military and the elite members of the Chinese society to ensure that their bureaucratic administration was respected. The military and the elite members of the society who collaborated with the supreme leader were given land grants as a reward for their support and loyalty. Therefore, the military had the power to own vast pieces of land in the empire. The Han Empire created a strong army that ensured the expansion and longevity of the dynasty. The military also worked hand in hand with the court for enforcement purposes. In order to empower the Chinese society, the Han Empire introduced the Confucius ideology which ensured that ...