Introduction
The governments of Han China and Rome after Augustus were vastly different in their institutions and practices. While both empires employed autocratic rule and relied on bureaucracy, the ways in which they developed these systems varied significantly. The Han Chinese imperial government was characterized by a Confucian meritocracy while the Roman imperial government was characterized by a strong religious framework. Additionally, Han China tended to centralize more power within a single ruler as compared to Rome's system of devolved authority through provincial governorships. Lastly, political discourse in the two empires took different forms with Rome focusing on rhetoric and legal frameworks while Han China favored an examination
…show more content…
The feudal system in Han China allowed for vassal lords to govern their own lands and pay homage to the emperor by providing him with troops, goods and money when needed. This decentralized approach meant that power was spread among multiple lords who were obligated to uphold the edicts of the emperor but had authority over their own people and land. In contrast, under Augustus’ rule Rome adopted a more authoritative form of government that relied on direct rule from the center. This shift towards centralization proved successful because it allowed Augustus to have control over taxation, military affairs as well as judicial matters throughout his empire which enabled him to maintain stability across regions. Furthermore, Augustus used this power to create new institutions such as the Senate and created laws such as lex Julia de maritandis ordinibus which provided legal protection for families throughout Rome's territories. All these reforms helped consolidate power in Rome while also allowing them to expand their reach beyond its borders. In comparison, the Han dynasty's decentralized approach meant that there was less uniformity in terms of administration due to varying degrees of autonomy among local rulers causing confusion at times when dealing with certain matters like taxation or foreign policy making it difficult for them to establish more powerful overseas presence compared with Rome during this period