Classical EmpiresClassical EmpiresHan Dynasty, Roman Empire and Guptan Han Dynasty, Roman Empire and Guptan

EmpireEmpire

Characteristics of EmpiresGreek, Roman and Chinese Traditions

Han and Roman EmpiresReasons for Decline

THE CLASSICAL EmpiresTHE CLASSICAL Empires(1000 BCE - 600 CE)(1000 BCE - 600 CE)

During this era, world history was shaped by the During this era, world history was shaped by the rise of several large civilizations that grew from rise of several large civilizations that grew from areas where the earlier civilizations thrived.areas where the earlier civilizations thrived.

1. kept more accurate records, so historical information about them is much more abundant

2. provide many direct links to today's world, so that we may refer to them as root societies—ones that modern societies have grown from

3. expansionist—deliberately conquering lands around them to create large empires

Common Features of Classical CivilizationsCommon Features of Classical Civilizations

Each civ developed their own beliefs, lifestyles, Each civ developed their own beliefs, lifestyles, political institutions, and social structures… political institutions, and social structures… however, there were important similarities:however, there were important similarities:

• Patriarchal family structures - Like the river valley societies earlier, the classical civilizations valued male authority within families, as well as in most other areas of life.

• Agricultural-based economies - Despite more sophisticated and complex job specialization, the most common occupation in all areas was farming—therefore most lived where?

• Complex governments

• Expanding trade base

Characteristics of Classical EmpiresCharacteristics of Classical Empires

• Powerful military• Effective government bureaucracy• Control large territory-multiethnic and

multicultural• Uniform currency and weights and measures• Service of citizens (civic duty)• Advancement of military technology• Uniform legal codes• Public works• Lavish public monuments• Patronize the arts and scholarship• Slavery? …everywhere… but…

Greco-Roman TraditionsGreco-Roman Traditions

• Active participation in politics – Greek city-state, Roman republic

• Aristocracy– Republic– “philosopher kings”

• Rule by law – codified, movement towards equitable law

• Polytheism (though Christianity makes extensive gains during the late Roman Empire)

• Slave Labor

East Asian TraditionsEast Asian Traditions

• Ancestor Worship

• Dynastic Cycle (will be discussed later)

• Legalism and Confucianism– Reinforced social hierarchy and male

dominance

• Meritocracy– Established by Qin; merit (hard work)

enabled (limited) upward social mobility

Han and Roman Empire Han and Roman Empire SimilaritiesSimilarities

• Highly stratified societies• Patriarchal families —Confucianism, pater

familias• Agricultural base —free peasants-small

farms or tenant farmers, heavy dependency on slavery and latifundias (estates)

• Educated civil service —Confucian trained scholar bureaucrats, civic responsibility

• Highly centralized state

Han and Roman continuedHan and Roman continued

• Multicultural empires —most conquered assimilated, citizenship offered to best, extension of Roman law

• Extensive road systems and urban communities

• Subordinated women

• Powerful armies maintain the empire

Direct ComparisonsDirect Comparisons1. Rome

1. Well organized bureaucracy founded on Roman law and classical learning

2. Emphasis on family: pater familias

3. Reliance on patricians: women gained power and property rights within families

4. Engineering: roads, aqueducts, amphitheatres, domes, sewage systems, central heating

5. Inventions: concrete, the arch (probably Etruscan), insulae (apartment buildings)

6. Religion: Emperor as god, paganism, mystery religions, introduction of Christianity

1. Han1. Well organized bureaucracy

founded on Confucian ideals and education

2. Emphasis on family, ancestors: patriarchal

3. Reliance on gentry as support: good marriages afforded women more rights

4. Engineering: roads, canals, the Great Wall

5. Inventions: wheelbarrow, gunpowder, printing press, compass, paper, paper currency (all before 1000 ce)

6. Religion: Confucianism, Daoism, native gods, introduction of Buddhism

Decline of EmpiresDecline of Empires

Han and Roman

DeclineDecline

• Empires too big —costly to defend the frontiers

• Burden of taxes on the poor, – some flee to evade taxes, as maintaining the

empire grows more costly – taxes go up, few new sources of revenue,

religious groups and nobility exempt• Slavery in Rome (supply and demand???)

– Hurts working class Romans– Oppressive less productive, – fewer new sources, – less technological development

Decline (Continued)Decline (Continued)

• Administrative problemssuccession —corruption, weak emperors failing bureaucracies —corruption of

examination system, lack of civic responsibility In Rome —bread and circuses to forestall

revolts

• Eroding economies —decline in trade when roads not repaired or safe

Decline (Continued)Decline (Continued)

• Religion —Christianity a factor in Rome, but Buddhism is not

• PlaguesPlagues—hit both hard, especially in cities of Roman empire

• Pressure from nomadsPressure from nomads —Huns, Xiongnu, Germanic

Why did the west fall harder?Why did the west fall harder?

• Han Chinese more multiethnicHan Chinese more multiethnic —a true nation that can endure beyond the dynasty; In Roman empire most live outside Italy

• State and society not bound together with the same glue — In China, Confucianism offers both order for family, society and state —not true of Romans

• Rome employed a mercenary army- loyalty issues!• Better assimilation of “barbarians” by China,

Germanic tribes dismembered Roman empire, while nomads absorbed by Chinese

• Common language —Roman (vulgate Latin) never replaced Greek in much of the empire

• Dynastic Cycles

Why western Roman empire and not eastern?Why western Roman empire and not eastern?

• Deep, engrained civilization in the east —Greeks and before

• East less impacted by nomadic invasion —maybe because many enduring cities, large populations

• Tribes on eastern borders were disorganized and unmotivated

• After separation of empire, east no longer has to send any help to West

• When west cut from wealth of East, the tax base dwindled