AP World History 2012-2013
  • Unit 1
    • 1.1.3: Tools and Adaptation>
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 1.3.9 & 1.3.2: New Religions & Geographies of Early Civs.>
      • Early Religions>
        • AGMSPRITE Analysis
        • Works Cited
      • The Early Civilizations>
        • Case Study
        • AGMSPRITE Analysis
        • Works Cited
    • 1.1.2: Humans and Fire>
      • 1.1.4: Economic Structures>
        • Case Study
        • AGMSPRITE Analysis
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 1.3.6: Arts & Record Keeping>
      • Arts and Artisanship
      • Systems of Recordkeeping
      • Case Study: The Phoenician Alphabet
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 1.3.1-1.3.3: Early Culture & Systems of Rule>
      • Culture's Effects
      • Systems of Rule
      • Case Study: Hammurabi's Code
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 1.1-1.4 Early Human Innovation>
      • 1.1.1: Human Patterns of Migration>
        • Case Study
        • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 1.2.1-1.2.3: The Climate & The Neolithic Era>
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 1.2.5-1.2.6: Reliable Food Sources & Innovation>
      • Case Study - The Plow
      • Works Cited
    • 1.3.1-1.3.2: Pastoralists & Early Architecture>
      • Introduction
      • Monumental Architecture And Urban Planning
      • Pastoralist Weapon Dissemination And Transportation
      • Pastoralist Tools
      • Basic
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
      • Works Cited
  • Unit 2
    • 2.2.5-2.2.7 Social Hierarchy and Gender Roles>
      • Gender Roles>
        • Case Study
        • AGMSPRITE Analysis
      • Social Hierarchies >
        • AGMSPRITE
    • 2.2.4 Cities>
      • Trade>
        • Trade AGMSPRITE
        • Trade Case Study
      • Religious Rituals>
        • Religious Rituals AGMSPRITE
        • Religious Rituals Case Study
      • Public Administration>
        • Public Administration AGMSPRITE
        • Public Administration Case Study
    • 2.2.2 Orchestration of the Persian and S. Asian Empires>
      • Persia>
        • Imperial Administration and Legal Systems
        • Military Power
        • Trade and Economic Integration and Regulation
        • AGMSPRITE Analysis
      • South Asia>
        • Imperial Administration and Legal Systems
        • Military Power
        • Trade and Economic Integration and Regulation
        • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 2.2.2 Orchestration of Rome and China>
      • China>
        • Imperial Administration
        • Military Power
        • Trade and Economics
        • AGMSPRITE Analysis
      • Rome>
        • Imperial Administration
        • Military Power
        • Trade and Economics
        • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 2.2.1: Growth of Empires & States>
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
    • 2.1.6 Cultures Of Second Wave Civilizations>
      • Sculptures
      • Architecture
      • Literature
      • A.G.M.S.P.R.I.T.E
      • Sources
    • 2.1.1: Religions as a Bonding Force>
      • The Basic Gist
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
      • Case Study
    • 2.1.4 Buddhism and Hinduism Impact on Gender Roles>
      • Buddhism
    • 2.1.2 The Emergence of Religions>
      • Christianity
      • Confucianism
      • Greco-Roman Philosophy
      • Daoism
      • AGMSPRITE
  • Unit 3
    • 3.1.1 Third Wave Global Trade Routes>
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 3.1.2 The Impact of trade on emerging trading cities>
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 3.1.3. Spread of Islam Through Afro-Eurasia>
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
    • 3.1.4 Inter-Regional Travelers >
      • The Basic Gist
      • Compare and Contrast
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 3.1.5. Cultural Interactions and Art>
      • The Basic Gist
      • Cultural Traditions AGMSPRITE
      • Art AGMSPRITE
      • Literature AGMSPRITE
      • Case Study
    • 3.1.6: The Impact of Newly Spread Technologies and Scientific Knowledge>
      • Basic Gist
      • Movement of Gunpowder from East to West
      • Movement of Printing from East to West
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 3.1.7 Inter-Regional Conflicts>
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
  • Unit 4
    • 4.1.1. - Influence of Tools Upon Transoceanic Trade>
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
    • 4.1.2: Maritime Reconnaissance>
      • Basic Gist
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 4.1.3 World Economies>
      • Basic Gist
      • AGMSPRITE analysis
      • Case Study
    • 4.1.4 The Colossal Impact of the Colombian Exchange>
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study on Sugar
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis of the East
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis of the West
    • 4.1.5 Government and the Arts>
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
    • 4.2.3 Forced Migration of Africans Cause and Effect>
      • Basic Gist
      • Causes of the forced migration of Africans
      • Effects/Developments of the forced migration of Africans
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 4.3.2 Impact of Technology on state consolidation and imperial expansion>
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
  • Unit 5
    • 5.3.1 US and Latin American Revolutions >
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
    • 5.3.2b Hatian Revolution>
      • Basic Gist
      • AGMSPRITE
    • 5.3.2a: Causes and Effects of French Revolution>
      • Causes of the French Revolution
      • Effects of the French Revolution
      • AGMSPRITE
    • 5.3.2c Causes and Effects of the Mexican Revolution>
      • Basic Gist
      • Causes of the Mexican Revolution
      • Effects of the Mexican Revolution
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 5.3.3: The Winds of Change>
      • Case Study
      • The Conception of Nation-States
      • Nationalism on the Rise
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 5.3.4 Nationalism and Democracy >
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
      • 5.3.5 Enlightenment and European Despots>
        • Basic Gist
  • Unit 6
    • War and Peace in a Global Context>
      • Big Gist>
        • WWI vs WWII
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
    • Changing Economics>
      • Basic Gist
      • AGMSPRITE
      • Case Study
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
    • Demographic and Environmental Changes>
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 20th Century Globalization>
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
    • Effects of Revolutions on Women>
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
    • New Patterns of Nationalism >
      • Basic Gist
      • Independence of Vietnam Case Study
      • Effects of Communism Case Study
      • Chinese and Russian Revolutions
      • AGMSPRITE
    • Globalization of Science, technology and culture. >
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE

Case Study: Rome vs. China (Qin and Han Dynasties) 
By Tilly Behrmann

Existing around the same time period (500 B.C.E. - 200 C.E.), encompassing relatively similar land sizes, and housing similar population sizes, the Roman and Chinese Empires may seem to be identical entities at first glance.  However, under further scrutiny, it is apparent that the methods of emergence and growth exhibited by these empires are highly distinct.

China

     After the fall of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou Dynasties, the first Chinese Civilizations were thrown into disarray, in what is known as the Age of Warring States.  In this period of time, China consisted of seven competing kingdoms.  Qin Shihuangdi, a ruler in one of these states, found the state of China to be unacceptable, and therefore, utilized an effective system of bureaucracy and  access to iron in order to enable his army to conquer the surrounding kingdoms.  By employing the political philosophy of Legalism, Shihuangdi created a system of strict and harsh enforcement of the law and servitude towards the state. Although brutal, this practice was imperative in establishing unity amongst the chaotic state of the warring kingdoms.  
     In order to further define the boundaries of the newly formed empire (and to keep the northern barbarians out), Shihuangdi ordered the construction of The Great Wall of China.  The empire was further united by the standardization of Chinese writing.  Because of the harshness of Shihuangdi's rule, the dynasty lasted briefly, and was overcome by the Han Dynasty.  Confucianism replaced Legalism as form of philosophical order, emphasizing such institutions as the Mandate of Heaven (Leaders were inherently given power, with the proposition that they would not abuse it).  Confucianism preached obedience and reverence to one's ruler, as well as the importance of the master-subject relationship.  This widespread ideology unified the empire by giving it a common belief system and, in turn, a system of social organization.  In Chinese conquest, assimilation was a common occurrence, and thus, a unifying ethnicity became predominant amongst conquered peoples.

Picture
As seen above, The Great Wall of China (constructed in the Qin Dynasty) created a sort of defining barrier for the Chinese Empire, thus, effectively enclosing and differentiating the Empire from the rest of the world.

Rome

     Conversely, the Roman Empire began as a small, Mediterranean city-state.  Rome began to expand out of necessity; the city-state was impoverished and needed to expand in order to gain resources.  As an established empire, Rome contrasted China's centralized government by promoting a republic, where the upper-class patricians formed a Senate.  Eventually, the tribune was created (a law making body designated for the commoner, or plebeian) in order to ease social tensions caused by class distinctions.  This Greco-inspired form of government allowed for an impressive empire building regime.  Rome established a powerful navy through it's victory in the Punic Wars against Carthage, and expanded its empire further through various conquests of Mediterranean, Western, and Southern territories.  Again, this conquest was seen as a necessity, as each conquered region created more vulnerabilities.  This conquest also provided Rome with another important social necessity: slaves, which encompassed approximately one third of Rome's population.  
     Eventually, this quest for expansion led to several powerful military leaders; thus, a decline of democratic values was apparent.  Finally, Rome transformed from a republic to a complete empire, as Julius Caesar came into power.  Unlike China, Rome lamented this transition into a completely centralized government.  
   Also contrasting China is the effects of expansion upon the social climate of the empire.  Unlike China, the conquered people's of Rome were not made to assimilate to the Roman culture, but rather influenced the culture of the empire.  This can be seen in Rome's adoption of Christianity.  The Roman Empire drew heavily from Greek influence, as seen in their art and architecture.  While China possessed its own ethnicity and singular language, many ethnicities existed in Rome, and Latin made way for other Romantic languages.  
Picture
Picture
As seen by the Roman amphitheater (left) and the Greek Parthenon (right), the Roman Empire was heavily influenced by its conquered lands, unlike the Chinese Empire, where assimilation into the Chinese culture was a frequent occurrence. 

Rome vs. China: Compare and Contrast

     Perhaps the greatest distinction in the formation of the Han and Roman Empires is the organization of social hierarchies.  While both empires possessed obvious social classes (Patricians and Plebeians in the case of the Roman Empire and peasants and scholar-officials in the case of the Han), the philosophies regarding this organization varied.  In founding the principles regarding Roman society, the Romans drew heavily from the Greeks, relying upon democratic thinking and laws passed to support the common folk.  Despite this, Roman civilization relied greatly upon slavery, with slaves encompassing almost a third of the population.  After Rome's transition from a Republic to an empire, Christianity provided a new perspective in organizing a society, as the religion empowered the lower-class through its open doors and morally uplifting nature. 
     Han China, however, looked to Confucianism in organization. Confucianism emphasized societal roles, such as master-subject, husband-wife, and parent-child.  It stressed obedience and reverence as a means to create and maintain order.  Likewise, superiors were expected to return such obedience and reverence with benevolence, as denoted by the Mandate of Heaven.  This is seen by an excerpt from the Analects (sacred Confucian texts):

The Master said, "He who exercises government by means of his virtue may be compared to the north polar star, which keeps its place and all the stars turn towards it."

It is apparent through this excerpt that Han society was highly influenced by the values of Confucianism, thus, setting the foundation for the empire.  This contrasts the Roman philosophy of democratic representation, and then later, the empirical concept of uncompromisable power. 

Citations

"Ancient Greek Architecture." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 11 July 2012. Web. 09 Nov. 2012. 
           <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greek_architecture>.

Armstrong, Monty. Cracking the AP World History Exam. New York: Random House, 2012. 110-15. Print.

Compton, Marc. Lecture.

"CONFUCIAN ANALECTS." CONFUCIAN ANALECTS. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2012. <http://www.sacred-texts.com/cfu/conf1.htm>.

"Great Wall of China." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 11 Sept. 2012. Web. 09 Nov. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Wall_of_China>.

"Roman Art." - Art History. Collective Artisan, n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2012. <http://www.collectiveartisan.com/art-history/roman-art/>.

Strayer, Robert W. "The Classical Era in World History, 500 B.C.E. - 500 C.E." Ways of the World: A Brief Global History with Sources. Boston, MA: 
           Bedford/St. Martins, 2011. 154-63. Print.





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