As civilizations were beginning to expand and accumulate a substantial amount of wealth and an increase in population, there were higher demands for technological advances. Han China and Rome were both prime examples of the effects of expansion and population growth and the need for technology. It is evident that Han China’s technological inventions were highly centered around the working class individual. Which is quite contrary to the Roman view that the technological innovations should benefit the state in its entirety. Furthermore, technological advances in both civilizations were used as propaganda tools for political leaders and for the support of the government.
Han China consisted of a primarily agriculturalist based economy because …show more content…
This might be due to the fact that ever since Rome’s inception they have had a fierce sense of national pride, thus wanting their inventions to reflect their superiority. This argument is supported by the documents of Cicero’s On Duty, Plutarch’s accounts of Gaius Gracchus, and Seneca’s accounts. In On Duty, it is described how the little works of craftsmen were not to be seen as virtuous as it does not add to the country’s value but solely supports the common individual. Cicero was indeed a wealthy patrician who would not have been exposed to the harsh reality of survival in the working class, thus he saw them as inferior and viewed their work as vulgar. Plutarch’s accounts of Gaius Gracchus displayed an example of national pride in the form of the Roman roads that provided easy and safe travels for all who recognized Rome’s superiority. There’s a common saying, “all roads lead to Rome,” referring to the layout of the roads throughout the Roman Empire, which all led to the capital. This in itself shows the extreme pride and overarching piety of the Romans to their country. However, Plutarch being a Greek-born Roman citizen was accounting for a time period almost a century before and so the validity of this source comes into question. In Seneca’s account, it is described how the upper class viewed the importance of small technological innovations as anything far from important because they did not add to the country as a whole. Seneca was an advisor to Emperor Nero who would have had little experience with the working class but would have had a strong sense of the virtues and values of the Roman
Han China consisted of a primarily agriculturalist based economy because …show more content…
This might be due to the fact that ever since Rome’s inception they have had a fierce sense of national pride, thus wanting their inventions to reflect their superiority. This argument is supported by the documents of Cicero’s On Duty, Plutarch’s accounts of Gaius Gracchus, and Seneca’s accounts. In On Duty, it is described how the little works of craftsmen were not to be seen as virtuous as it does not add to the country’s value but solely supports the common individual. Cicero was indeed a wealthy patrician who would not have been exposed to the harsh reality of survival in the working class, thus he saw them as inferior and viewed their work as vulgar. Plutarch’s accounts of Gaius Gracchus displayed an example of national pride in the form of the Roman roads that provided easy and safe travels for all who recognized Rome’s superiority. There’s a common saying, “all roads lead to Rome,” referring to the layout of the roads throughout the Roman Empire, which all led to the capital. This in itself shows the extreme pride and overarching piety of the Romans to their country. However, Plutarch being a Greek-born Roman citizen was accounting for a time period almost a century before and so the validity of this source comes into question. In Seneca’s account, it is described how the upper class viewed the importance of small technological innovations as anything far from important because they did not add to the country as a whole. Seneca was an advisor to Emperor Nero who would have had little experience with the working class but would have had a strong sense of the virtues and values of the Roman