Both the Han Dynasty in China and Imperial Rome had extensive communication systems that allowed political control over a large area, and political philosophies were influenced by beliefs in both societies. However, Rome use a vast system of roads known as the Persian Royal Roads for communication regarding politics, while the Silk Road in Han China allowed for political communication between the Han and the rest of China.
The strong tie between Confucianism and Legalism to the Han government led to certain strict laws and policies, while Christian beliefs allowed the Pope to become a political figure in Rome. Invasions from Germanic tribes led to the fall of Rome, while an event known as the Yellow Turban Uprising led to the fall of the Han Dynasty. Both societies had extensive communication systems that allowed for control of a central government over a large area. Communication dealing with politics became easier through the use of extensive roads.
Merchants and those who carried the news also used the roads in both societies. Lastly, the road systems of both societies enabled cultural diffusion, but also diffusion of political ideas. Therefore the Han Dynasty and Imperial Rome relied heavily on the use of the Silk Roads and the Persian Royal Roads to communicate issues of politics. Imperial Rome was ended through attacks from Germanic tribes, while the Yellow Turban uprising led to the fall of the Han Dynasty in China.
With pressure existing from the Huns, groups of Germanic people flushed into the Roman Empire, eventually leading to the fall of Imperial Rome. Problems dealing with land distribution contributed to several rebellions, including the most significant uprising known as the Yellow Turban Uprising. During the Han Dynasty, factions at court paralyzed the Han central government, dissolving the empire, splitting the dynasty into regional kingdoms.
External attacks led to the end of Imperial Rome, while internal conflicts led to the total disappearance of the Han Dynasty in China. Both societies were strongly patriarchal. Julius Caesar, a popular social reformer and conqueror, became part of the first triumvirate to rule Rome. Octavian, later known as Augustus, became the sole ruler of Rome, after defeating Mark Anthony. Similarly, in the Han Dynasty, Liu Bang founded and was the first emperor of the Han Dynasty, thus displaying strong patriarchal characteristics in the Han Dynasty.
Although the accomplishments of these men were different, both societies were heavily influenced by male patriarchs. The two societies had different beliefs allowing for different influences on the government. In imperial Rome, the Pope became a high ranking political figure due to strong ties between the Roman government and the Christian church. Han bureaucrats and leaders, being educated in a Confucius based university, had strict laws based on legalist policies and saw activism in ones community to be important.
Therefore, while Rome’s government was heavily impacted by Christianity, the leaders and bureaucrats of the Han Dynasty based their policies on the Confucius education they received. While Imperial Rome and the Han Dynasty in China both had extensive communication systems and were strongly patriarchal societies, the political characteristics of both societies began to defer during the end of both civilizations and because of the beliefs that caused certain political practices within each of the two societies.