Abstract This paper is a detailed comparison of the RomanEmpire and the Chinese Empire. The author shows how the imperial dynasties of Han and Qin along with the classical empire of Rome offered their people a combination of protection against external enemies and an infrastructure that was far more functional than individual cities or regions would have been able to provide for themselves. This paper describes the reign of all three of these dynasties and their effect on their people as well as world history.
From the Paper "While it is difficult to make any general statement that can cover the political and cultural complexities of the Roman Empire along with the Han and Qin dynasties in China because they were sufficiently different from each other as well as being possessed of substantial internal diversity. And yet, even given the range of institutions and ideals that the three cultures exemplified, there are some commonalties that strike the observer from the vantage point of the 21st century. The primary one of these is that neither the Chinese empire nor the Roman one could have extended its reach as far as it did in geographic terms, had as great a control over its subjects' personal lives as it did, nor ruled for such a long period of time had not the ruling house combined a high degree of bureaucratic efficiency with a depiction of the imperial family that was at least semi-divine."
Abstract This paper presents a positive review of Arther Ferrill's study on the RomanEmpire, "The Fall of the RomanEmpire". The paper includes a discussion of some of the book's weaknesses, but focuses on the book's ability to deliver an informative, historical account of the decline of the RomanEmpire. The paper also applies the lessons learned from the book to the current political situation in the United States and asserts that these lessons should be heeded in light of the comparisons that can be drawn between the political, economic, and military power of the United States and that of the RomanEmpire during its time.
From the Paper "The Fall of the Roman Empire by Arther Ferrill (1986) provides well written and interesting reading for the non-historian. While Ferrill breaks down many areas of the Roman Empire and it's decline, there are other areas where the author's description of some important details remains sketchy and leaves the reader wanting more information. Ferrill breezes over some very important explanations concerning why the Eastern Empire survived despite the Eastern army suffering the two major defeats of Adrianople and Julian's failed Persian campaign. Ferrill also does not support the argument that the Fall of Rome was the result of a successful conquest of barbarism and religion. He instead maintains that uncomplicated military failures contributed to Rome's decline. The case he presents supports that these were created by political blunders, and that enough of the blunders created the misfortune that resulted in the decline of the Roman public spirit."
Tags: civilized, productive, lifestyle, oppressed, barbarians, minorities, national, liberation, battles, defense, in, depth, federated, status, roman, army
Abstract This paper discusses Aeneas and his relationship to the RomanEmpire. The paper discusses Aeneas' future, according to "The Norton Anthology of World Literature" as leading to a peaceful period in RomanEmpire at that time. The paper also discusses what might have been different in Rome if Aeneas had stayed with Carthage and Dido.
Table of Contents:
Who is Aeneas?
Aeneas' Journey
What If's
In Conclusion
From the Paper "In every culture, there is the ideal hero that will either consciously or subconsciously be looked and followed upon. What may be an ideal hero to a certain group of people may not fit the concept of the ideal from another group."
Tags: hero, history, literature, mythology, roman, virgil, world
Abstract This paper analyzes the city structures of the Romanempire. The author gives a detailed explanation of the structure and functions of the roads, forums, aqueducts and baths that were used for social, religious and commercial activities.
From the Paper ?The discipline of engineering was very close to that of architecture in the Roman World. Roman architecture was a social art that gave the people of the Roman Empire benefits that no community had ever achieved before. Innovative city planning in the Roman Empire excelled in the creation of roads, forums, aqueducts and baths.?
Abstract Based on the work of two eminent historians, this essay clearly defines the multiple causes for the fall of the RomanEmpire in 476 AD.
From the Paper "Many scholars disagree on the exact length of this historical event, but Grant believes that A.D. 365 is when the downward process began. Until that date, he writes, Rome was still seemingly invincible and immensely powerful, having put the turmoil of the third century behind it. Grant concludes that the ultimate blame for the fall rests with the Romans themselves, not with the barbarians who surrounded the Empire. He identifies internal economic, religious, institutional, ideological, and military forces that weakened Roman society. These forces, or more precisely, the conflicts between the groups representative of each force, led to thirteen defects that displayed one unifying thread: disunity. Grant places no formal weighting on individual causes; he recognizes that multiple causes provide the best explanation for historical events. According to Grant, these thirteen defects tore the Romans apart and limited their capacity to meet external aggression. These flaws within Roman society finally became so irreconcilably violent that the entire foundation of Roman society was shaken. In the end, resistance to external threats was virtually impossible, and the damage proved fatal. Rome fell, not by attack from the outside, but from appalling internal splits within the Empire."
Abstract This paper looks at the internal politics of the time of the fall of the RomanEmpires and examines whether these factors assisted in its collapse. It also details conflicts involving money, the Germanic tribes, religion and politics.
From the Paper "The great Roman Empire is famous for its extensive size, exciting culture, huge army, and its overall prosperity. The empire was easily the largest, and strongest, of its time. But not many people know what led to the fall of the western half of this huge empire. There was not one, but many causes that led to the fall of the Western Roman Empire. There were internal political, economic, and social causes for Rome's decay. The invasion by Germanic tribes was just the final nail in the coffin for the Western Roman Empire."
Abstract This paper compares and contrasts the RomanEmpire and the Han Dynasty in China in respect to their societies and economies. It further examines the civilizations' social classes, economic activities, family and the role of women. It also examines the ideologies of each civilization through philosophy and religion, and those influences on each society as a whole.
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. Social Classes and Status
III. Economic Activity
IV. Family
V. Role of Women
VI. Conclusion
From the Paper "The period between 200 BC and 200 AD was a fascinating period in the world's history. During this time several legendary figures walked the earth. People like Jesus Christ, Julius Caesar, and Cleopatra. Great empires like the Roman Empire (27 BC to 5th century AD) in the west and the Han Dynasty (202 BC to 220 AD) in the east ruled over vast sections of the world population. The impact and legacy of these two empires on world history are undeniable. In this paper a comparison of the Roman Empire and the Han Dynasty will be made with particular focus on the society and economy as well as the lives of the people during the times."
Tags: China, Roman, Ceasar, Liu Pang, Confucius, Christianity
Abstract The paper describes the birth of the Roman republic and the rise and fall of Julius Caesar and notes the aspects that are common to the Roman and the Greek cultures. The paper then discusses the end of the Republic and the beginning of the Empire that was marked by the naming of Octavian Augustus emperor for life. The paper outlines the era of the Five Good Emperors and focuses on Diocletian and Constantine who were some of the most important figures of the RomanEmpire at that time and had a role in the spread of Christianity. Finally, the paper overviews the main reasons for the fall of the RomanEmpire.
From the Paper "The history of the Roman republic and then empire represents one of the most important segments of the history of the world. It represents the first elements of the organization of the state. However, at the same time the development of the system of government pointed out the different means through which a community can evolve from a political point of view. From the early days of the republic to the late years of the Empire, the Roman state and its institutions were a representative example for the political development of a form of government."
Abstract This paper is written about the end of the Western RomanEmpire. The classic work in the field is provided by Edward Gibbon in "The History of the Decline and Fall of the RomanEmpire". Gibbon's essential argument was one that attributed the "fall" (the use of this term today being itself a source of controversy) to "Christianity, which he claimed had undermined the ancient warrior traditions of the Romans and, through the influence of monasticism and asceticism, turned them away from earthly things".
Abstract This paper compares the RomanEmpire and the Han Dynasty with respect to their leaders, demographics, and economies. The author discusses reasons for the decline of both empires. He further argues that the RomanEmpire and the Han Dynasty eventually fell as a result of dire leaders and rulers. Additionally, the author contends that economic problems were a factor in the decline of the RomanEmpire and the Han Dynasty as well.
From the Paper "The Roman Empire and the Han Dynasty were two of the largest and most powerful empires of ancient Europe and Asia, respectively. Yet the Han Dynasty lasted for about 400 years while the Roman Empire ruled for about 900 years. Both empires shared many similar and different qualities in their rise to power. However, both empires fell after time. The decline of the Roman Empire and the Han Dynasty both varied with respect to its leaders and rulers, demography, and the economy. Although both empires were massive and powerful during the time, they both declined like all past empires."
A review of the Romanempire and a discussion as to why Rome, which began as a city-state, was so much more successful than Athens in creating and maintaining an empire.
Abstract This paper describes the structure of the Romanempire during the time period known as the principate. The paper reviews how the Romans governed their provinces, what methods were used to secure and protect them, the taxation policies, ways in which Roman ideology and values were impressed upon subjugated peoples, and how the Romans exploited the natural and human resources of their conquests.
Outline:
Introduction
The Principate
Rome over Athens?
From the Paper "The Romans imposed their ideology and value system upon conquered peoples through a long process of assimilation that generally took many years, if not several generations. The assimilation naturally begins with the conquest of a nation or territory by the Legions. In the fighting, many native warriors are killed, particularly any leaders or nobility that opposed the Romans. After the conquest, Rome appointed governors to rule the territory that were amicable to Roman rule, and often were native leaders that welcomed Roman influence in their homelands (usually for personal gain). Roman soldiers would settle in the new province, furthering the assimilation process by interbreeding with the native peoples. Roman temples were built to replace domestic religious sites. Young warriors would join the Roman army, which would serve to indoctrinate them into Roman culture and ways, including the use of Latin as a language- one of the rewards of military service was full Roman citizenship. Over the years, these factors would slowly change the native cultures until almost no vestiges of the original culture remained, and the people were living by Roman laws and customs. This assimilation process came to be known as "Romanization." [3]"
Abstract This paper examines how Voltaire noted that the Holy RomanEmpire was "neither Holy, nor Roman, nor an Empire." It discusses and clarifies Voltaire's statement, examining the nature of the empire generally and then looks specifically at the reasons for the disunity which ultimately rendered it an ineffective institution. Causes for disunity discussed include: the Reformation and the ensuing wars, culminating in the Thirty Years' War (1618-48) and the Treaty of Westphalia (1648).
From the Paper "The Holy Roman Empire never achieved the political unification that France did. "As early as the first half of the thirteenth century, the German Emperor, weakened by furious struggles with the papacy, by the effort to impose his authority in central and northern Italy, had been forced to withdraw his officers from both ecclesiastical and secular principalities."18 German princes were granted even greater powers such as the ability to coin money and administer justice in their own territories.18 A prolonged attempt at centralizing authority starting with Maximilian I (1493-1519) was disrupted by the Reformation and the ensuing wars, culminating with the Thirty Years' War (1618-48) and the Treaty of Westphalia (1648)."
Abstract This paper discusses how an important social group in Rome, the Greek leading senators, came to be incorporated into the RomanEmpire, focusing on issues such as citizenship. It concentrates on the second and third centuries, but argues that this process took place over an extended period. The paper also looks at how Greek culture was absorbed into the RomanEmpire and the problems this raised for the traditional Roman ruling elite.
From the Paper "The issue of Greek absorption into the governing classes of the Roman Empire encompasses an extended chronological period, as different rulers contributed to the development of Greek assimilation in very distinct ways. By the 400's, the composition of the senate and governing classes had changed beyond all recognition, both in the extent to which it absorbed provincials and the nature of admission to the senate. However, at different points in the second and third centuries, hardly any Greek provincials, east or west, were included in senatorial composition. This reflects a sporadic trend in official policy, although there was no discernible difference in numbers between absorption from the east, and that from the west. What made the Greek east unique was in the effect that assimilation of provincials had on the senate, on the relationships between Greek and Roman culture, and on redefining Greek and Roman identity. There is a considerable variance of opinion as to the extent to which there was a Greco - Roman culture, or whether the two were quite distinct and could not be reconciled. This debate was also relevant to contemporary Greeks in positions of power , as well as Romans who disliked the situation. 'Greeks in the Roman governing class, however - that would evoke horror and incredulity from Cicero, and from many others in a long sequel.'# Others saw the importance and prominence of the novi homines, so it is clear that there was a variety of contemporary opinion. However, the extent to which absorption happened was comparatively great in periods under Trajan and Hadrian, and the effect it had was to ultimately aid in the undermining of the Roman Senate, to the point that by the 400s there was even a second senate at Constantinople. "
Abstract This paper explains that, after the Stone Age, the earliest known Bronze Age culture of Europe and the Mediterranean was the Minoan, an ancient civilization on what is now Crete in the Mediterranean prior to classical Greek culture. The author points out that the advances in building construction led to the widespread use of the arch by the Romans and to the invention of durable cements and concrete for structures that have survived to the present times. The paper clarifies that, although Rome possessed a collection of tribute-states for centuries before the autocracy of Augustus, the pre-Augustan state conventionally is described as the Roman Republic; the difference between the RomanEmpire and the Roman Republic lies primarily in the governing bodies and their relationship to each other.
From the Paper "In discussing history over such great spans of time, historians rely on what is known as the classic three-age system. The system divides early human history into three distinct phases based upon the level of technology developed and the materials used in forming tools. These three ages and their exact placement in time vary according to geographic region; some regions developed the use of bronze and iron before others. Indeed, there are still Stone Age cultures extant on the planet, although that is becoming more and rarer as the years pass. Other ages than the ones mentioned are used by archaeology to delineate "sub-ages" that distinguish when a particular material (usually a metal) began to be used in tool-making and industry (examples include the Copper Age, the Silver Age, or the Gold Age)."
Abstract This paper will discuss the fall of the RomanEmpire, and why this powerful civilization came to an end, and how it affected the people; its citizens. The study will reveal how the end of the RomanEmpire came to slow halt, and eventually was taken over by the Christian theocrats that saved it remnants. By understanding this great civilization, we can see how it has influenced the world to greatness, but had to come to its knees like all great civilizations do.
