Shi Huang Di vs Hadrian Essay
Charming Yeung
“Emperor Shi Huangdi or Emperor Hadrian:
Who kept control of their Empire most effectively?”
Shi Huangdi, who became China’s first Emperor, and Emperor Hadrian, who was perhaps the Roman’s greatest Emperor, both tried to control their empires. They used various methods such as armies, roads, walls, laws and currency. Emperor Shi Huangdi was the most effective at controlling his empire because he had built up his army and his empire with great work. He had also unified six other kingdoms in China known as Han, Wei, Chu, Yan, Zhao and Qi by 221 BC.
Ordinary people obeyed both Emperor Shi Huangdi and Emperor Hadrian a lot. However, they both had different ways of making people obey them. Shi Huangdi was clearly obeyed because of fear from the citizens of China. This is because of his strict laws and rules. For example, branding, chopping, off of hands and of feet, strangulation and mutilation are some of the punishments that would occur on people violating the rules or going against his opinions. For example, when the scholars wrote negative comments on Shi Huangdi, he immediately punishes the scholars by burying them alive in a pit and burning all the books. He as well forced Chinese male to enter the army and fight for him once they reached the age of 23. This tells us that Shi Huangdi was obeyed because of fear more than will. This helped Emperor Shi Huangdi to keep control because of the fear people show towards the fierce and unmerciful ways of Shi Huangdi’s empire so no one will dare go against his will. It’s a good method because if the rules and laws are stricter, no one will do bad things like robbing or murdering since the consequences are so fretful. However, Emperor Hadrian was different from Emperor Shi Huangdi a lot. He did not force people to do anything they do not desire or refused. For example, Emperor Hadrian did not force men to enter his army and they were mostly volunteers, not conscripts. This shows that Emperor Hadrian was
“Emperor Shi Huangdi or Emperor Hadrian:
Who kept control of their Empire most effectively?”
Shi Huangdi, who became China’s first Emperor, and Emperor Hadrian, who was perhaps the Roman’s greatest Emperor, both tried to control their empires. They used various methods such as armies, roads, walls, laws and currency. Emperor Shi Huangdi was the most effective at controlling his empire because he had built up his army and his empire with great work. He had also unified six other kingdoms in China known as Han, Wei, Chu, Yan, Zhao and Qi by 221 BC.
Ordinary people obeyed both Emperor Shi Huangdi and Emperor Hadrian a lot. However, they both had different ways of making people obey them. Shi Huangdi was clearly obeyed because of fear from the citizens of China. This is because of his strict laws and rules. For example, branding, chopping, off of hands and of feet, strangulation and mutilation are some of the punishments that would occur on people violating the rules or going against his opinions. For example, when the scholars wrote negative comments on Shi Huangdi, he immediately punishes the scholars by burying them alive in a pit and burning all the books. He as well forced Chinese male to enter the army and fight for him once they reached the age of 23. This tells us that Shi Huangdi was obeyed because of fear more than will. This helped Emperor Shi Huangdi to keep control because of the fear people show towards the fierce and unmerciful ways of Shi Huangdi’s empire so no one will dare go against his will. It’s a good method because if the rules and laws are stricter, no one will do bad things like robbing or murdering since the consequences are so fretful. However, Emperor Hadrian was different from Emperor Shi Huangdi a lot. He did not force people to do anything they do not desire or refused. For example, Emperor Hadrian did not force men to enter his army and they were mostly volunteers, not conscripts. This shows that Emperor Hadrian was
Bibliography: (BB) Imperial China, Carol Gleisner, OUP, 1993 (YB) Imerpial China, Josh Brooman, Longman Group 1991 Wikipedia