Essay+Outlines

Comparative Essay - Systems of Control in Han China and Rome
 * Thesis:** Han China and Rome, both Classical civilizations, relied on highly organized bureaucracies to maintain political control and social order. However, the structures of these respective government systems differed; in China, unelected, yet skilled bureaucrats managed the government, while in Rome, elected officials governed under a clearly defined code of law.

Evidence: Han China - 130,000 bureaucrats, national civil service exams, introduction of national currency Rome - 5.7 million sq. km, organization/hierarchy in Roman empire, cicero / political philosophy DCs: Both govts. superseded local authority
 * Point #1** - Highly efficient government bureaucracies were used in Han China and Rome to control vast amounts of land under their respective empires.

Evidence: Han China - civil servants meant to restrain arbitrary rule of leaders Rome - 2 consuls, senate (voted on executive decisions) DCs: Rome = elections for some govt. officials; Han China = no elections
 * Point #2** - Rome was established as a republic, where members of the Roman citizenry elected magistrates to serve as senators. In China, there was no democratic process - leaders were decided according to lineage and bureaucrats were employed through civil service exams.

Evidence: Han China - Confucius + teachings, fundamental tenets of Confucianism + how to relates to relationship btw govt. and people Rome - Cicero + political philosophy; code of law DCs: Both societies used a system of law to control peasantry
 * Point #3** - In Han China, an overarching social philosophy, Confucianism, was vital to maintain government control over an obedient citizenry, while in Rome, no such philosophy existed.

Change and Continuties Essay - Patterns of Interactions along the Silk Roads Thesis Statement: Between 200 BC and 1450 CE, there was a constant stream of good, ideas, and religions being exchanged along the Silk Roads between Europe, Central Asia, and China. However, the types of people and the types of goods being exchanged changed on this road continued to change in this 1650 year period.

 Base Paragraph: In 200 BC the Silk Road was especially important in connecting Han China which traded with Rome silk, luxury goods, and other manufacturing goods. At the beginning it was Buddhism the main religion in Han China, Rome, and other civilizations. The nomads were the ones in charged of trading, there wasn’t any merchants that went back and for taking care of trading goods.

 Change: Trade on the silk roads endured despite changes in empires. After the fall of the Roman Empire in 500 CE, the Byzantine empire, or the eastern portion of the old Roman empire reestablished trade with parts of China, via the Silk Roads. Likewise, in China, after the fall of the Han dynasty in 200 CE, the Sui, Tang, and Song dynasties picked up where the Han had left off, driven by the allure of speciality goods from Europe and the Middle East. Later on, after 1200 CE, the Mongols were able to create an interconnected trading network across Eurasia that was centered around the Silk road; this made trading safer and more effective throughout most of the civilized world.

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