HAN AND ROME TECHNOLOGY DBQ2007

ANALYZE HAN AND ROMAN ATTITUDES TOWARD TECHNOLOGYThe Question

WHAT DOES THIS DOCUMENT TELL US ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND HOW INDIVIDUALS FELT ABOUT IT?Apply the key question to the document

DOCUMENT ONE: HAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL WRITING TO LOCAL OFFICIALS, EARLY 2ND CENTURY BCE

Establish water conservation offices in each district and staff them with experienced individuals.

Government involvement for inspections of waterways, walls of cities, the dikes, rivers, canals, etc.

Supply workers to carry out repair

Extra notes: positive tone; Confucian obligation of good government; Mandate of Heaven; history of flooding (River of Sorrows); requires labor to carry out repairs

DOCUMENT TWO: HUAN GUAN, HAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL, DISCOURSES ON SALT AND IRON, FIRST CENTURY BCE

Early tools made by individuals were well-made Iron tools created by government monopoly

and convict labor are crude Good tools are hard to come by Iron production economically benefits the state Common people cannot afford iron and till with

wooden plows

Extra notes: Negative tone, criticism of government production; consider Confucian position on business and merchant activity; hurt laborers

DOCUMENT THREE: HUAN TAN, UPPER-CLASS HAN PHILOSOPHER, NEW DISCOURSES, 20 CE

Wise ruler invented pestle and mortar Continual improvement

Extra notes: positive tone, tied to wise leadership; Confucian thought

DOCUMENT FOUR: HISTORY OF THE EARLY HAN DYNASTY (GOVERNMENT SPONSORED), 200 CE

Tu Shih was a governor who cared for his people and wished to reduce their labor

Improved technology for casting of iron implements

Great benefit with limited labor

Extra notes: government role; Confucian thoughts; theme of iron; effects on limited labor

DOCUMENT FIVE: CIERCO, UPPER-CLASS ROMAN POLITICIAN, ON DUTY, FIRST CENTURY B CE

Improper for gentlemen of a certain status to labor including craftsmen

Extra notes: negative tone for certain peoples; upper-class person justifying his role of elite position

DOCUMENT SIX: PLUTARCH, GREEK BORN ROMAN CITIZEN AND HIGH OFFICIAL, DESCRIBING GAIUS GRACCHUS, FIRST CENTURY CE Focus on the need for the state to create

roads using technology know-how

Extra notes: positive tone, government involvement to benefit the masses; during Pax Romana but looks back to hero of the masses

DOCUMENT SEVEN: SENECA, UPPER-CLASS ROMAN PHILOSOPHER AND ADVISOR TO NERO, FIRST CENTURY CE

Technology created with a nimble sharp mind, but not by a great or elevate man

Extra notes: technology equates with work; only appropriate for certain classes; justify elite position

DOCUMENT 8: FRONTINUS, GOVERNOR GENERAL OF BRITAIN AND WATER COMMISSIONER, FIRST CENTURY CE

Aqueducts created by advanced technology

Extra notes: Government uses technology; water; he is the water commissioner

SOME POTENTIAL GROUPS

Those who saw a benefit in technology Technology to control water resources

Technology and its effects on iron production

Technology inappropriate for the upper-classes

Government utilizing technology Effects on labor as related to technology Government and political leaders Negative feelings about technology

EXAMPLE THESIS PARAGRAPH

The Classical Age spawned a great many advancements and achievements associated with the consolidation of imperial power and economic growth which contributed to an era of several golden ages from Han China to Gupta India to the Pax Romana. Some looked to new technological discoveries as beneficial, partially in light of the need to control water resources. Others had far less positive feelings about new technology. Some went so far as to suggest that technology and its applications were demeaning to the status of a true gentleman.

EXAMPLE GROUP

Many saw new technology as benefiting both governments and individuals.

DOCUMENTS AS EVIDENCECREATION OF A SUB-GROUP

Many saw new technology as benefiting both governments and individuals. This was particularly true when it came to managing water resources, an essential requirement often fulfilled by the state. Frontinus (8), the Roman General and governor of Britain, pointed out that aqueducts brought water to every elevation of major cities. Such water could be used for a variety of purposes, all of which demonstrated that this technological invention was superior and unique in the ancient world. Similarly, a Han government official (1) ordered local officials to concern themselves with inspecting and repairing waterways, dikes, and canals. Both men point out how critically important it is for the government to use technology to control water. Huan Tan (3) also suggests that technology is a great benefit. He points to the mythological wise emperor, Fuxi, and….

BIAS/POV The topic of technology and its applications took on other

areas including the topic of iron tool production. A History of the Early Han Dynasty (4) points to the benefits of such technology. A discussion is provided about a provincial governor, Tu Shih, and how his invention of a water-powered blowing-engine created better iron tools to help laborers. Huan Guan (2) discuss these same tools but suggests that technology dominated by the state monopoly on iron actually harmed the production of farm implements by creating poorly fabricated tools vastly inferior to those created by workers for their own use. As a Han government official, we might assume that Huan Guan would be greatly influenced by the Confucian characterization of business and merchant activity as corruptible and lowly. This could easily sway his thoughts on the government monopolization of the iron industry and its involvement in the technological manufacturing of such tools.

BIAS/POV AND AD Some were highly critical of technology as they

saw it as something inappropriate for upper-class individuals, and rather only appropriate for the more common man. Cierco (4), an upper-class Roman politician, describes the work of craftsmen as vulgar. Seneca (7), an upper-class Roman philosopher, also suggests that great or elevated men don’t invent things. Perhaps both men were trying to justify their elite status in a society which valued oratory skills and involvement in political life. It would be interesting to see the perspective of a common man, such as a peasant, to evaluate how they felt about technology. Would it be the great savior that many suggested, or it would it only cause them to toil more?