| The Roman Principate and the Han dynasty were | | | | percent dedicated to agriculture. The cultures had |
| two very competent empires that left lasting | | | | very different attitudes concerning the state and |
| influences in the areas of their expansion, even | | | | family, though. The hierarchy, strengthened by |
| following their demise. Despite this congruence in | | | | Confucius thought, was emphasized in China as |
| basic political structure and social arrangements, | | | | compared to Rome. The family, with a good deal |
| the two empires varied in concepts such as | | | | of deference for ancestors and respect for |
| religion, center of power, and military significance. | | | | authority, was a significant model for society and |
| This compelling unity, nevertheless, revived for | | | | the state. In Rome, the cult of ancestors and the |
| the Chinese years later, but unfortunately never | | | | family was not a model for society. There, in |
| remerged for the Romans. | | | | truth, was never a definite ideology of political |
| In order to have had an empire, of course, both | | | | organization for the state and its rulers to abide |
| civilizations had very strong and autocratic central | | | | by. This may explain why there was never a |
| governments. This allowed for a powerful and an | | | | reemergence of the Roman imperial model. |
| ever-expanding kingdom. This expansionary | | | | Religion was perhaps the prime distinction |
| military needed a way to travel, thus was the | | | | between the two nations. While the Han appeared |
| reason for creating a road system. The basic | | | | to benefit from the doctrines of Confucius, |
| foundation for the military and government may | | | | Christianity appealed to the Romans, but after its |
| appear to be similar on the surface, but they | | | | acceptance from Constantine. After Constantine's |
| actually were quite different. The Roman army, | | | | revelation with Christianity, he ended the |
| for one, was a more experienced and privileged | | | | persecution of Christians and nearly converted the |
| group of men who held higher ranks in the class | | | | entire empire to these beliefs. It is unknown |
| system. These men, along with the senate also | | | | whether Constantine actually accepted Christianity, |
| played a vital role in the picking of an emperor | | | | but he supported the church as did numerous |
| and maintained a great deal of loyalty to him. The | | | | succeeding rulers. This religion eventually influenced |
| senate was typically the center of power for the | | | | many decisions and beliefs of future rulers of |
| Roman Empire, anyway. In the Han dynasty, | | | | Rome. It more specifically appealed to the lower |
| however, the ruler was hereditary and he had to | | | | classes such as women, slaves, and the poor. |
| appeal, persuade, and even threaten to achieve | | | | Buddhism, a heresy to Confucius idea, was just |
| agreement with him. The military was certainly | | | | emerging in China and did not grasp the majority |
| less loyal and less likely to struggle for power, | | | | until the post-Han era. |
| mostly due to the fact that the soldiers were | | | | Conclusively, the cost of such a vast empire was |
| newly drafted and had little experience. China had | | | | more than the government and its people could |
| two capital cities, Luoyang in the east, and | | | | bear. The broad borders of the two empires |
| Chang'an in the West, that served as seats of | | | | required too much maintenance and were quite |
| power for emporers. The middle class was free | | | | expensive. To keep up with the escalating |
| from government constraints in Rome, which | | | | dilemma, the state was forced to tax its citizens |
| allowed for economic mobility. This was not the | | | | extensively. This action lost the loyalty of the |
| case for the Han as the merchant class was | | | | public and many borders were abandoned, |
| restricted by the government. The imperial model | | | | weakening the government in return. The two |
| of these two societies managed only to revive in | | | | governments could not afford this burden and |
| China some years later; however, the same | | | | failed to extend the life of the empire and they |
| cannot be stated for Rome. | | | | fundamentally collapsed. However, the new |
| Ultimately, the two empires were agriculturally | | | | immigrant groups that now flourished in these |
| based with homogenous cities and diverse peoples | | | | areas tried to maintain the culture of the Roman |
| living in the surrounding regions. Rome was even | | | | Empire and the Han Dynasty after being |
| considered an urban empire because rule was | | | | subjected by them for so many years. |
| from the cities, in spite of having over eighty | | | | |