Between 200 BCE and 200 CE, the two leading empires in the world were China and Rome, due to their widespread and rapidly expanding territories. Both empires expanded significantly throughout the span of their empires. To control such vast areas, Rome and China implemented comparable practices, yet significantly different. The Chinese government was much more centralized and bureaucratic, when being compared to Rome. In governing such extensive territories, bureaucratic and legal considerations overthrew individual necessities. Empires required standard measures, uniform decisions, predictable outcomes, and individual compliance. Yet, large numbers of people can flourish under a government that keeps the peace or makes choices that are responsible,
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Both empires raised taxes to support their growing armies. As these taxes increased, the peasant population became unable to pay them. Since rich landowners in both of the empires were not required to pay taxes, many peasants fled to these landlords for protection. In Rome, this affected trade by making the tax on several products rise, creating inflation within the empire. According to document 1, China had to make changes in order to maintain the growing empire. The Han Empire had to impose taxes in order to maintain itself. Due to this increase in taxes, many peasants fled south where the taxes were lower, or, they could have moved onto the estates of great land owners. China’s professional armies became the private forces of the rich, land owning generals who commanded them. These armies grew in size and power until the generals became independent warlords. Soon, they completely overshadowed and controlled the central Chinese government (Document 1). Since the beginning of the Han Dynasty, the economy had been badly damaged due to policies of the former empire, the Qin Dynasty. Heavy taxes were executed onto the peasant population of the empire and the construction of the Great Wall of China also took its toll on China’s economy. Since the Han Dynasty relied largely on the peasant population for production, the government, at first, removed heavy taxation of small land owners and imposed these heavier taxes on merchants. This, of course, did not last for the entire dynasty because the peasants became overtaxed once again. These peasants would scatter themselves to the surrounding countryside and wait until the tax collectors left. One reason why these peasants fled from tax collectors is that they were trying to survive on smaller and smaller plots of farm land. The population in the dynasty was increasing, and each son was to inherit only half of
Both empires raised taxes to support their growing armies. As these taxes increased, the peasant population became unable to pay them. Since rich landowners in both of the empires were not required to pay taxes, many peasants fled to these landlords for protection. In Rome, this affected trade by making the tax on several products rise, creating inflation within the empire. According to document 1, China had to make changes in order to maintain the growing empire. The Han Empire had to impose taxes in order to maintain itself. Due to this increase in taxes, many peasants fled south where the taxes were lower, or, they could have moved onto the estates of great land owners. China’s professional armies became the private forces of the rich, land owning generals who commanded them. These armies grew in size and power until the generals became independent warlords. Soon, they completely overshadowed and controlled the central Chinese government (Document 1). Since the beginning of the Han Dynasty, the economy had been badly damaged due to policies of the former empire, the Qin Dynasty. Heavy taxes were executed onto the peasant population of the empire and the construction of the Great Wall of China also took its toll on China’s economy. Since the Han Dynasty relied largely on the peasant population for production, the government, at first, removed heavy taxation of small land owners and imposed these heavier taxes on merchants. This, of course, did not last for the entire dynasty because the peasants became overtaxed once again. These peasants would scatter themselves to the surrounding countryside and wait until the tax collectors left. One reason why these peasants fled from tax collectors is that they were trying to survive on smaller and smaller plots of farm land. The population in the dynasty was increasing, and each son was to inherit only half of