Similarities Between Rome And China

Rome (750 BC – AD 500) and China (350 BC – AD 600) experienced conflicts not only in the physical sense, such as in wars, but also in political struggles, religion, and power. Although each civilization had similarities, like structured governments in the form of emperors and dynasties, they also had differences, like in the way they wrote laws and dealt with handing out those rules. Religion was still going through changes of rules, while certain countries starting grasping ideas of new ones. War kept on brewing up between common enemies, causing battles against who should take over certain land parts. Finally, politics, with ever popular emperors and empresses coming about while other major ones dying off, causing civil confusion and conflictions.

Most of the time, both of these countries were not given much of a break until more conflict between their neighboring countries arose. They similarly wanted more territory in order to spread their beliefs or power, and war was one way in which do to so. Rome wanted to “expand and protect their empire;” (Nelson) whereas, China was wanting to make sure their territories remained in control. When Rome gained new territory, they allowed the defeated to keep their beliefs and even gave the people some form of citizenship. When China gained new territory, such as during the Qin Dynasty, it made sure that nobles lost power and that the emperor had complete control over all people and government. In 300 BC, The Qin Dynasty was doing an excellent job taking territory and increasing power. States nearby explained their successful conquering as “swallowing them up as a silkworm devours a mulberry leaf.” They also explained China as “intense and ruthless” (Beck) while taking over other countries. China sadly saw the loss of the Han Dynasty from the Battle of the Red Cliffs. China was never united afterwards and turned into the Three Kingdoms. Rome was in constant conflict with their neighbor Carthage. In 264 BC, Rome declared war on them, which was called the Punic Wars, which lasted decades and decades. Due to the amount of civil wars taking place within Rome during the Punic Wars, thousands of Roman soldiers died and a constant back-and-forth fighting went on for 80 years. Carthage was ultimately