Roman Empire and Han Dynasty

1
Roman Empire and Han Dynasty

• A Short Comparison
• World History

2
Roman Empire
3
Han Dynasty
4
Characteristics

• Han China
• Well organized bureaucracy based upon Confucian
  ideas and education

• Roman Empire
• Well organized bureaucracy founded on Roman law
  and classical learning

5
Characteristics

• Han Imperial Universities
• In Xian a university of Confucian study was
  founded.
• An exam was created to evaluate anyone who felt
  knowledgeable enough to take it and become a
  bureaucrat.
• Unfortunately, only the wealthy had time to study
  enough.

• Roman Education
• Founded on Greek Principles.
• Wanted strong, healthy, religious and responsible
  citizen.
• A free slave opened the first private school in
  ancient Rome.

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Characteristics

• Han China
• Emphasis on Family ancestors patriarchical
• Reliance on landed gentry
• Engineering accomplishments roads, canals, the
  Great Wall

• Roman Empire
• Emphasis on family pater familias
• Reliance on patricians
• Engineering accomplishments roads, aqueducts,
  amphitheatres, domes, sewage systems, central
  heating

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Characteristics

• Grand Canal

• Roman Roads

8
Characteristics

• Great Wall

• Roman Aqueduct

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Characteristics

• Han China
• Religion Confucianism, Daoism, native gods,
  intro to Buddhism

• Roman Empire
• Religion Emperor as god, paganism, intro to
  Christianity

Both Buddhism and Christianity are considered new
superseding religions that reformed and
surpassed a former religion with historical ties.
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Decline of Han Dynasty

• Infighting among ruling elites
• Inequitable distribution of land - tax burden
  fell on peasants rather than on large landowners
• Series of peasant rebellions
• Yellow Turban Rebellion Wore yellow scarves on
  heads, Taoists angry with landowning elite.
• Generals usurp political power - become warlords

11
Decline of Han Dynasty

• 220 CE generals divide empire into three
  kingdoms.
• Emigration of nomadic peoples into N. China kept
  country disunited

12
Decline of Roman Empire

• Internal opposition - barrack emperors
• Difficulties in administering vast empire creates
  rivalries and divisions of authority
• Eastern and Western Empire - capital moved to
  Constantinople

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Decline of Roman Empire

• Germanic invasions by Vandals, Ostrogoths, and
  Visigoths
• 476 Odacer deposes final Western Roman Emperor
• Eastern Roman Empire becomes Byzantine Empire -
  lasts another 1000 years

14
Shared Characteristics

• Decline in Morals and Values
• Decline in those values that have upheld this
  particular society together
• Public Health and Urban Decay
• Political Corruption
• Unemployment and Inflation
• Inferior technology
• Military Spending

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Evaluate

• What factors allowed them to last over 400 years?
• Are there any lessons we can take from their
  rise, rule, and fall?