...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...
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...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...
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...China China remained very isolated, so its ability to learn was limited. This intellectual heritage stressed the basic harmony of nature: Every feature is balanced by an opposite, every yin by a yang. According to this philosophy, an individual should find a way, called Dao, to relate to this harmony. Patterns in Classical China China has maintained the clearest links to its classical past. Already a pattern was set in motion that lasted until the early part of the 20th century. Dynasties would start rule, develop strong political institutions, and encourage an active economy. But afterwards, the dynasty would grow weaker and tax revenues declined, while social divisions increased in the larger society. As one dynasty went down, another emerged and repeated the pattern. * Three dynasties covered the centuries of classical China: Zhou, Qin, and Han. Zhou The Zhou dynasty lasted from 1029 to 258 b.c.e. The dynasty only until about 700 b.c.e. flourished. They replaced the Shang rulers. It was then declined by political infrastructure and frequent invasions by nomadic people from border regions. * Government was not very powerful. * Rulers didn’t have the means to control their territories directly. * In exchange for land, supporters were supposed to provide the government with troops and tax revenues. * Extended territory by taking over the Yangtze river valley. (Middle Kingdom) * Wheat grew in the North and rice in the Southpopulation growth...
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... 1 2 Page 1 of 2. Jalen Davis 10/4/13 AP World History 6th Period The Han china and the Gupta India are two different cultures they have similarities, but differ in other ways. You can say that even though they were in two different regions you can tell how they are alike and can easily tell how they differ. The comparisons between the Han and the Gupta Dynasties. During the Classical period the Han China and Mauryan and the Gupta India developed many methods of political control. Although these empires were located in different regions they both used, language, bureaucracy, and religion as a means of political control. Many of India’s religious beliefs and bureaucratic practices differed each other in relation to political control .Like Han China Classical India used their social structure system as a method of political control. Han China developed a social structure based on literacy, and India introduced a caste system. Literacy divided China educational wise so that lower classes were not capable of taking the Service Exam and the higher classes were qualified to take this exam and become bureaucrats. The Indian caste system based on skin color created the idea of racial division by placing the lighter skinned people in higher classes and the darker skinned people in lower classes. Both of these systems had a class that consisted of unskilled people. In China, these people were referred to as mean people. In India, these people, or the untouchables ...
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...The Han dynasty was a very important time in ancient China’s history. The Han dynasty lasted from 206 B.C.E. to 220 C.E., which is over 400 years! The Han dynasty arose because the Chinese people were unhappy with the harsh, Legalist rule of the Qin. Under Han rule, China had a golden age, or a long period of stability and wealth. Education, literature, and art flourished, while new practices, inventions, and discoveries improved people's lives. The Han dynasty improved government and daily life in China in many ways. The government improved a lot under the Han dynasty. They adopted the centralized government established by Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi. But they softened the harsh ruling style of the Qin emperor and brought Confucian ideas back...
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...There were many differences in the way China and the Roman Empire contributed the use of religion on their societies. In Rome, the religions Christianity and Greco used not for their society but used more independently for worship. This is a beneficial for Roman society because it lead to more independent religions rather than a one main religion for the whole society. This was an important factor to cultural syncretism because with this freedom the Roman Empire had created new religions. Unlike the Roman Empire, China was under strict control limit with their religion, Confucianism. Although it did not give freedom, but the early society structure of China was base on this religion. The difference between the two societies was not only the religion worship but also the influence the religion made on improve the society. This was important because this showed the variation in how the society used and spread their religion. Religion played a leading role while contrasting the differences that were apart of cultural syncretism in both societies. In Han Dynasty, the well organized bureaucracy based upon Confucian ideas and education. Confucianism was used as an educational tool to prepare large numbers of people to become bureaucrats for the administration of the highly organized Han government. Potential workers had to pass difficult civil service exams that included extensive Confucian content. Thus, the Han bureaucracy was composed of well-educated people who were devotees...
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...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...
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...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,...
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...History 110A MWF 11:00-11:50 16 March 2015 Chapter 8: The Unification of China The unification and expansion of China during the Qin and Han dynasties (221-220 B.C.E) was a rich tradition of the social and political philosophies of Confucians, Daoists, and Legalists was the foundation on which these and later dynasties rested. The important elements that contributed to the unification of China in this period were building a centralized bureaucracy staffed with professionals educated in Confucian thought and values, a prosperous economy based on technological and industrial development and long-distance trade, and standardization of the written language. Confucius was an educator and political advisor and his sayings were compiled in the Analects by his disciples. His ideas were fundamentally moral and ethical in character and practiced on how to restore political and social order. His ideas concentrated on the formation of junzi or superior individuals and did not allow personal interests influence their judgements. Confucius had edited the Zhou classics for his disciples to study. Ren, an example of key Confucian values, was a sense of humanity, kindness, and benevolence. There was also Li, a sense of propriety, courtesy, respect, and deference to elders. Lastly, there was Xiao, afilial piety and familial obligation. He wanted to cultivate personal morality and junzi for bringing order to China. One of the spokesmen for Confucian school was Mencius, who believed in the...
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...AP World History - Stearns Chapter 2 – Classical Civilization: China I. Introduction – longest-lived civilization in history A. Isolated 1. Couldn’t learn from other cultures 2. Rare invasions 3. Distinctive identity 4. Relatively little internal chaos w/ decline of Shang dynasty a. Greatest links to classical society B. Intellectual theory 1. Harmony of nature – yin and yang – balance 2. Seek Dao – the way a. Avoid excess b. Appreciate balance of opposites c. Humans part of world, not on outside – like Mediterranean Thesis: China emerged with an unusually well-integrated system in which government, philosophy, economic incentives, the family, and the individual were intended to blend into a harmonious whole. II. Patterns in Classical China A. Pattern of rule 1. Dynasty, family of kings – create strong politics, economy 2. Dynasty grew weak, taxes declined 3. Social divisions increased 4. Invasion or internal rebellion 5. Another dynasty emerged – general, invader, peasant rebel B. Zhou Dynasty – 1029-258 BCE 1. Started decline in 700 BCE 2. Ruled w/ local princes – alliance system a. Successful in agricultural communities – ie manor system Europe b. Princes received land for troops/tax 3. Eventually local leaders ignored central gov’t 4. Contributions a. Extended territory to “Middle Kingdom” – wheat north, rice south 1. Transportation/communication...
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...Germanic invasions? Attila? Byzantine Empire Romulus Augustulus? Virgil? Roman Achievements? The major contribution to Western CIF.? Dates of Republic/Empire/Byzantine Trajan? Arch/Architecture? Infrastructure? Greatest Roman Legacy? Gupta Major accomplishments of each Empire? Mauryan Chandragupta Maurya? Indian geography? Invasions into India? Arthashastra Ashoka Maurya? Kautilya? Buddhism and Hinduism? Brahmin? Collapse? Patriarchal/Matriarchal? Chandra Gupta? White Huns? Tamil? Trade patterns/partners? Guild? Political stability? Dates/TL of each Empire? HAN 1. A family of kings, called a ____________, would rule over China during the classical period. 2. The Great Wall of China was built during the rule of First Emperor ____________. 3. The most famous ruler of the Han dynasty was _____________. 4. Wu Ti set up a ____________ for all those who...
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...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...
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...Chapter 15 In 629, Xuanzang broke the law and left China to travel to India. He was a Buddhist monk. He realized that when he was studying about Buddhism in China, that some of their views did not agree with Buddhism in India, so he went there to investigate by traveling and talking to teachers. After having a bad time in the desert, he made it to an oasis which gave him the resources to keep going. He received silk, horses, laborers, gold, silver, and silk clothes. On his journey, he cried 3 high mountains and had to face evil people. When he got to India in 630, he studied Indian Buddhism and collected information in books and relics. Although he broke the law, the ruler accepted it because of how difficult his journey was and that he made...
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...enlighten individuals on China regarding dynasties, unification, leadership, political philosophies, government structure and international relationships. The country has an extensive history. China also has many customs we would consider to be unacceptable. Come with me and let’s explore the up and coming global power. SECTIONII: There were many dynasties that have ruled China since 2033BC. Xia dynasty is one that people did not want to admit it existed. Xia ended with its leader being overthrown, imagine that. People can only put up with so much oppression. The monarch was a typical imbecile with money and power at his fingertips; he was overthrown. The Shang dynasty was ruled by a corrupt leader; he was overthrown. The longest lasting dynasty in China was the Zhou dynasty; they were in charge from 1027-221BC (www.google.com). A writing system and bronze metallurgy were invented. The king was assassinated by rebels (www.paulnoll.com). Power equals money which in turn, equals demise especially regarding dynasties. China dynasty rulers when overthrown are usually exiled or murdered. One Zhou ruler was overthrown and killed by rebel lords. With the royal line broken the power of the Zhou court gradually diminished (www.paulnoll.com/China/Dynasty-Zhou.html). The Qin dynasty was a ruthless one. They relied heavily on standardizing legal codes and bureaucratic procedures (www.paulnoll.com/China/Dynasty-Qin.html). Wow! One could say that China is communist due to...
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...Ancient Chinese Inventions Nancy LeFever Strayer University Dr. Rick Foster Hum111 World Cultures I March 2, 2014 Civilization dawned in China centuries before it took root in the West. Within these centuries many wonderful things came into being, things that today we use and sometimes take for granted. Ancient times could not have been easy; everything was done the hard way until something was created to make the task easier. “Necessity is the mother of invention” spoke Plato. The Chinese are and have been great inventors, contributing hundreds of incredible items throughout the ages. A debate on which Chinese inventions are the best or greatest of all has been ongoing for many years. Although the top ten seem to be somewhat the same, the order in which they are listed is different depending on who is cataloging them. Some say that alcohol is the #1 invention while others contend that gunpowder or the compass is at the top. There are so many to choose from, it is a difficult task to determine which Chinese invention is the most important. Since the inventions are scattered among different areas of life: homemaking has the teapot, pasta and the toothbrush; sailing has the movable rudder and the batten sail; war has gunpowder, the crossbow (not to mention the repeating crossbow), the exploding cannonball and landmines; finance has paper money, the bank note, the abacus; agriculture has the iron plow and the seed drill, different inventions mean more to one person...
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