Similarities Between Han China And Rome

Han China and Rome, despite having some political and cultural differences, fell in ways that were almost directly parallel to one another. Both civilizations experienced declines in everything from culture and population to economy and government, as well as both suffering from attacks by nomadic invaders. However, each civilization's fall had their own unique factors, and the lasting impact of their falls differed greatly.

Both Han China and Rome had to deal with a weakening government, which in both cases led to landlords ruling over the peasants. The landlords' demands were added to the heavy taxes peasants also had to pay, leading to extreme poverty. The two civilizations faced declining cultural innovation, caused by scholars not creating

any relevant new content. They also experienced epidemics that would wipe out a large amount of their populations, brought by way of international trade. They both faced nomadic invasions as well, which would be the final breaking point.

However, while China faced rebellions from the lower classes, Rome's upper classes took to pleasure-seeking ways, turning away from their previous work in politics and the economy. China dealt with active efforts against it while Rome slowly declined due to self-indulgence and apathy. Rome also had to deal with another problem that China did not have, in that they were paying soldiers to fight for them, adding yet another drain to their resources. Although China and Rome both fell similarly, China was able to revive itself due to the strength of Confucianism and the bureaucratic system. Rome, lacking any such similar strengths, was unable to pull itself back together.

The two civilizations, despite the distance and differing time periods, dealt with many of the same basic problems. Weakening governments, poverty, population decreases, and other such complications would ultimately cost them their empires. But despite their similarities, they did each deal with their own separate problems. China was faced with revolutions, and Rome's decreasing population would only cause increasing problems. It's a bit strange to think how both unrelated civilizations had so many factors in common; perhaps such problems are only inevitable for civilizations so large and grand.