The Roman Empire and the Han Dynasty of China had many similarities and differences. Many of these similarities and differences were political, social, and economical. Some of the similarities included the resemblances of political figures, the role of women, and the parallels in each empire’s trade. Some differences included the contrasts of the forms of government, the spheres of influence for each empire, and the military expeditions led by the empires. These similarities and differences portrayed the parallels that showed their power and the differences that marked them as separate.
The similarities in the political figures between the Han Dynasty and the Roman Empire were clear. The Martial Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty and Octavian, later known as Augustus Caesar, both have corresponding achievements that were both good for their respective empires. Both rulers reorganized the army and gained much land. Augustus Caesar gained more land for Rome than any other Roman ruler. Han Wudi achieved the most land for China than any other previous ruler as well. Augustus Caesar gave more self-government to their provinces and districts to maintain order. This was also so that they could focus on their empires as a whole rather than worry about local affairs. Han Wudi did something similar when he sent imperial officers to implement his policies and maintain order in administrative provinces and districts. Both rulers created large bureaucracies to administer their empires and they both worked strenuously to increase the authority and prestige of the central government. These similarities between the two political figures displayed both empires’ wealth and stability. They both encouraged the construction of institutional frameworks that promoted the long-term survival of their own respective cultures.
The role of women in both the Han Dynasty in China and the Roman Empire were very similar. During the Han Dynasty, women were to