Two of history's most mighty and significant empires were the Roman and Han Empire. Both of them first appeared around the same time, and both persisted for centuries. They differed significantly in terms of geography, governmental systems, religious beliefs, and cultural practices. Despite these distinctions, both empires were renowned for their powerful armies, advanced economies, and enduring legacies that have had a long-lasting impact on history. The Han and Roman empires both experienced similar patterns of rise and expansion due to centralized government and strong military; however, different causes were at fault for their respective demises.
To begin, the Roman and Han militaries were very cohesive and fierce. The Roman military
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In the early years of the Roman Republic, the state's top elected officials—two consuls—served as the head of government. The Republic was then superseded by a monarchy and the office of emperor was formed following the Roman conquests. Emperor Augustus served as both the head of state and the head of the military, and he had total authority over both the government and the army. This is supported by the authors of Traditions & Encounters: A Global Perspective On The Past when they state, "He reorganized the military system, creating a new standing army with commanders who owed allegiance directly to the emperor—a reform that eliminated problems caused during the late republic by generals with personal armies. He also was careful to place individuals loyal to him in all important positions" (Bentley & Ziegler 2021, pg. 213). The Roman senate was still in existence at this period, although it had much less authority and was primarily employed for ceremonial purposes. Overall, the political organization of the Roman empire was defined by a strong central authority and a focus on military conquest and …show more content…
Corrupt practices, unstable economic conditions, and internal uprisings are only a few of the elements that contributed to this decline. The empire disintegrated as a result of the central government's deterioration and its inability to exert control over local warlords. The Han military was weakened by the mounting pressure and invasions from nomadic tribes like the Xiongnu, who further destabilized the empire. In the end, this deterioration brought about the Han Empire's demise in 220 CE which brought about the division of the empire into three separate kingdoms. (Bentley & Ziegler 2021, pg.