Han China And Rome Dbq Essay

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Technology can be innovations and inventions that help to accomplish tasks easier. Some examples of technology are agricultural tools, modern computers, electric compartments, etc. In earlier civilizations, the invention of technology itself was a massive part in growing the population and preserving business ordeals like trade. The Han dynasty and the Roman empire both believed technology was essential to their civilizations, but Han China had a positive outlook on labor and its benefits compared to a lesser enthusiasm towards it in Rome. Both the Romans and the Hans admired technology and the people that created it. In Document 1, a Han government official ordered local officials to assign workers and maintain the functionality of waterways …show more content…

Tu Shih, one of the focuses of this document, was peaceful, an extraordinary planner, and loved common citizens. Document 4 states how spectacular of a leader Tu Shih was and highlights his labor-reducing methods for the common people: “He invented a water-powered blowing-engine for the casting of iron agricultural implements that allowed people to enjoy great benefits for little labor. His invention has been widely adopted and used” (Doc 4). This excerpt is from another document (History of the early Han dynasty), and they present the attitude that technology is a gift from intelligent leaders and enlightened decision makers. This document can be grouped with document 3, also portraying that technology comes from wise, intelligent, sometimes mythological …show more content…

In document 5, the Romans portray their negative viewpoint on labor: “Vulgar and unbecoming to a gentleman are all the jobs hired workers take on, whose labor is purchased rather than their skill” (Doc 5). Cicero, a Roman political leader, describes laborious jobs as “vulgar”. His message is straightforward; real gentlemen do not like laborious tasks and would rather rely on technology to do all the work for them. On the other side, the Hans used labor to improve their technology. In document 3, Huan Tan touches on this: “Fuxi invented the pestle and the mortar. Later on, the pestle and the mortator were cleverly improved in such a way that the whole body could be used, thus increasing the efficiency ten times” (Doc 3). Fuxi, a mythological wise emperor, invented this piece of technology from labor. Hans believed that this technology came from enlightened