Age of Empires:Rome & Han China

753 B.C.E – 600 C.E

Rome: The Republic 507-31 B.C.E

• Senate & Consul(s) = – 2 major branches of govt. – Provincial Governors = Corrupt

• Early Expansion– Motives = Greed, aggressiveness,

Consul generalship– Methods = Citizen armies, Roman

citizenship to conquered peoples– Ex: Carthage 200-30 BCE /

Hellenistic 59-51 BCE / Gaul (Julius Caesar)

• Failure of Rome’s Republic– Latifundia Estates / $ Crops– Poor urban population– Swaying loyalty of soldiers

Rome: The Empire 31 B.C.E- 600 C.E.

• Octavian (Augustus Caesar) = Emperor of Rome– Increased power of Emperor– Reformed govt. / civil service /

added land– Succession determined by army

• Pax Romana 27 BCE – 180 CE– Manufacture & Trade Flourished– Imports (Grain, Silk, Spices)– Exports (glass, metalwork, pottery)

• Romanization = – Adaptation of Roman culture by

conquered peoples• Western Empire Crumbling while

Eastern Empire Flourishing– Constantinople new capital 324CE

(Preserved Roman traditions)

Rome: The Culture• Religions

– Mythology -> Christianity– Adopted by Emperor

Constantine – Council of Nicea

• Rural Rome– 80% of empire = farmers– Hard life of farming

• Urban Empire– Rome, Alexandria, Carthage,

Antioch• Paterfamilias =

– Roman hierarchical family structure

– Status of women depended on social class and husband

Qin China 221-207 B.C.E

• Shi Huangdi (Emperor)– ‘Unification’ of Central and

Northern China– Created strong

bureaucracy – Suppressed Confucianism

& Daoism in favor of Legalism

– Secured Borders: Forced conscription & freed peasantry from slavery but forced public works (Great Wall & Terra Cotta)

– Death in 210 BCE & Qin Rule over by 206 B.C.E

Han China: 206 B.C.E.-220 C.E.• Family = Basic Unit of Society

– Unbroken chain of ancestors

– Hierarchy of elder male– Women’s status depended

on social class of husband• Confucianism = Major Ideology• Major Leaders

– Liu Bang =Transition to Han– Emperor Wu Di = Stronger

military, expands empire 141-87 BCE

• Decline & Fall 220 CE– Undermined by weak

leadership, less tax revenue, mercenary armies, corruption, nomadic attacks

Continuities/Patterns in Chinese History

• Ethnocentrism• Xenophobia• Importance of Family• Low Status of Women• Conflict with Nature• Hard Lives of

Peasants

• Authoritarian Govt.• Dynastic Cycle• Cultural Conservatism• Education Valued• Creativity &

Innovation

Comparison Rome & Han China

• Similarities– Agriculture = Main

Economic Activity– Empires encompassed

diverse cultures– Built roads (Military &

Commercial Use)– Majority of population lived

in rural areas– Undermined by military

spending– Overrun by ‘barbarians’

that continued their culture

• Differences– Imperial model survived

continuously in China– Concept of the individual

(Rome)– Economic mobility of

middle class (Rome)– Structure of Military

(professional soldiers V. draftees)

– Major Religions