Han China vs Imperial Rome Essay Example

The Methods of political control used in Han China (206 B.C.E. – 220 C.E.) were similar to that of Imperial Rome (31 B.C.E. – 476 C.E.), however, these societies greatly differed on their opposition to governing and the techniques used in maintaining control over their citizens, expansion, and internal conflicts that later resulted to their decline.

Han China and Imperial Rome's government were similar due to the fact that they were ruled under one central leader. Han China had an emperor, who would enforce policies. Imperial Rome had a republic because they felt as though a monarchy did no good to the people. Although, the Senate of Rome had most of the power over the citizens. The differences between their rule was that in Han China the lower class citizens did not have any say on how they were ruled, while in Imperial Rome the plebeians, ordinary people, had representatives in the Senate, tribunes. Another difference between Han China and Imperial Rome is that, in Han China the emperor was chosen through family(hereditary), while in Rome they chose their ruler.

Both, Han China and Imperial Rome, emphasized territorial expansion. Both, Han China and Imperial Rome, perceived threats to security, which then led to wars and conquests that only increased the length of border and led to more threats, which led to more wars. The differences of the two expansions is that Imperial Rome built up its army, from citizen-farmers, to conquer lands and due to the many conquests Rome had many slaves. Han China had an impressive military at their disposal to enlarge the empire. Han China conquered many lands, but were not brutal to those they conquered like Imperial Rome and did not have slaves as a result of their ever growing territory.

Han China and Imperial Rome had similar declines due to internal conflicts, but they still had their differences. Han China and Imperial Rome's over-expansion led to invasions by nomadic