Similarities Between Han China And Classical Athens

Han Dynasty and Roman Empire have many cultural aspects including religious, geographical, and political similarities that can be compared, though many differences are also widespread during this era. Though Roman and Han political structures, both emphasized bureaucracies, they came to them quite differently. Through many amounts of expansion, both societies spread culture and earned money, though expansion was eventually their downfall. Their religions differed greatly, with Rome, emphasizing polytheism and Han China focusing on Confucianism. The differences and similarities between these two civilizations are to be discussed in this essay. One might ask, Which civilization yielded the best

It is evident that the two main largest classical empires were the Roman Empire and the Chinese Empire under the rule of the Han kings. These two empires had many social, political, and economic features in common, but likewise many of those features different from one another. A political feature that both classical empires shared was that both had powerful executive emperors who held absolute power. A second political feature that both empires had in common is that both empires had a central governmental body which maintained order, organized funds, collected taxes, and made executive decisions. Socially, the two empires also had features in common. The first similarity between the Roman social organization and the Han social organization

China and India had some qualities that contrast each other, but the two civilizations were very

Classical Athens and Han China shared major similarities and differences. Han China was roughly four hundred eighty times bigger than Classical Athens in land mass. Han China believed in Buddhism, and Classical Athens believed in a religion of multiple complex gods, they even paid tribute to the gods. One of the best reasons classical Athens is different from Han China is because of their different forms of government. Athens believed in democratic government while Han China believed in an Imperial form of government. The other reason that they’re different from each other is because of the physical distance between the two empires. The distance between the two is roughly 7000 km and they pretty much had no influence over each other, because of the humongous distance (Doc 1).

Ancient China and ancient India are both important and interesting ancient civilizations. They are alike and unlike in many ways. Some significant ways in which ancient India and China are similar and different are religion, art, economics, politics, and social structure.

Ancient China and Ancient Greece were two vastly different civilizations with different cultures; they shared a multitude of similar political, economic, and philosophical achievements while also inholding multiple differences. The centralized government of China differed from the independent city-states of Athens. A similarity that both civilizations held in regards to politics would be the role, or lack thereof one, that women played within their respective governments. China’s economy was focused on the internal trade and technological advancements while agriculture, trade, and slavery made the foundation for Greece’s. However, the two shared a link within whom they traded with as well as both

Some great differences between Classical Athens and China are represented by many different documents. They have very unalike categories in which both of the countries can be put in. Athens and China have divergent forms of their governments, the expectations of their citizens, and the arts, ideas, and religion in which they follow and believe.

One of the things that makes a nation strong is population size, however common practices of Athenian made it impossible for them to grow as strong as they could be. “For ten days after birth the father could inspect the baby, and if he found it deformed or weakened in any way, he could order it to be exposed in some public place to die.” (Doc N). With this being common practice in Athens, their nation was unable to grow as strong as it could be. The Han Dynasty did not kill their newborns, their next generation, and it contributed to them being the more successful nation. The other important factor in society if the women. This half of the population was treated as second class citizens for centuries, including by the Hans and Athenians. However, there were more oppertunities for women in China than Greece. “Athenian women had few rights under law- like slaves and resident aliens, they were in affect, legal minors.” (Doc Q). When half of the population is treated like slaves, and is not repected by the people around them, it brings down the morale of society, making life more difficult, and the nation less fruitile. In the Han Dynasty, upper class women could be educated, and Ben Zhao is an example of a highly literate woman whose work was read all over China, and was greatly admired. (Doc R).

The ancient Greeks and Romans were perhaps two of the greatest civilizations of the ancient world. These two civilizations thrived in their ancient environments which eventually led to a vast amount of prosperity within these two cultures. It is because of this prosperity that these ancient cultures were able to make a variety of advancements in literature, architecture, art and a variety of other fields. These two civilizations also produced some of the ancient world’s greatest writers, leaders, and philosophers. The cultures of ancient Greece and Rome made a number of contributions to western civilization in the form of advancements in literature, architecture, art, government, and philosophy.

The Chinese were more orientated to a communitarian philosophy provided by the literali teaching. For the Chinese that would ask the question there was Buddhism.

Mathematics, philosophy, astronomy, and medicine are some of the significant contributions made by the Greeks, and they were also notorious for their cultivated architecture and sculptures. The Greek culture impacted the Roman Empire and several other civilizations; it remains to transform present-day cultures. The Han Dynasty is one of the most remarkable dynasties in Chinese history. This dynasty incorporated about four hundred years of development and strengthening; it coexisted with the duration of the Roman republic and the empire in the West. Momentous developments occurred in the Han Dynasty. Rome advanced form being one of the several city-states to being the core of the most magnificent empire in the world.

Three of the major religious philosophies in Classical China were Daoism, Confucianism, and Legalism. Daoism was a religious philosophy that the upper class favored to strengthen their traditional Chinese beliefs, especially those relating to nature. Daoism told people to have harmony with nature by living frugally and with humility. On the other hand, Confucianism was centered around ethics. Confucianism’s main teachings were to treat others based on both of your positions in society and it did not discuss magic or mysteries, but instead made sure that everyone understood their place in society. Legalism, another system of political thought, consisted of an authoritarian state and strict rule. Legalists believed that human nature was bad and needed to be controlled. In a Legalist state, the army was in control while the people worked. Although these teaching were are very different, they were all found in Classical China.

China’s government was and empire, and here the emperor, “The Son of God,” delegated leaders who were called governors to their own smaller regions to dictate in. To increase the effectiveness of the centralized form of government The Ancient Chinese focused on having a large central government, and when the Han period ended, it ended with a total of just 130,000 bureaucrats, and which none were women, who represented 0.2% of the population (Doc 7, 3). Much different from the centralized government of China, Ancient Greece’s form of government was a democracy in which they governed themselves. It was said that no man could govern long enough to benefit themselves, but that was possible for the generals of the armed forces who could be elected any number of times. In the democracy there was an Assembly which all free, male, adult citizens could attend and generally talk about anything they would like (Doc 5).

Classical China and Classical India were truly great civilizations known for their contributions to modern China and India, but ancient China has always been more popular in research than ancient India for some reason, possibly because of it being of the major powers in the world today. According to the author of History, Time, and Knowledge in Ancient India, “The lack of interest in history in ancient India has often been noted and contrasted with the situation in China and the West.” (Perrett 1) Despite this, there is no denying the rich cultures of both India and China. Both countries produced very unique religions.


Taoism is China’s oldest religion. At one time, the land called China was the home of numerous peoples with different racial origins. All these ethnic groups probably had their own special gods and religious beliefs. Over time, kingdoms and empires grew in various areas and started incorporating more and more people into them. One common theme in these kingdoms and empires was a belief in life after death as can be seen in ancient tombs all over China. So people had to pay homage to and care for the dead. Some Chinese have fear of the dead, and they try to obey the dead or appease them. Another idea that is very strong in Chinese philosophy is as Chinese