Conrad Demarest Comparison of Empires

Refer to the complete listing of characteristics in the C-D Model before completing this chart. Include specific examples, not generalities. Characteristics Roman empire Han China 1. Necessary preconditions for the rise of - city state to republic to empire (a) - rebuilds after division (D) empires—the region must have: - barbarian neighbors that need to be - nomads threaten (wall) (defensive) a) State-level government ‘civilized’ (defensive) b) agricultural potential c) An environmental mosaic d) power vacuum e) Mutual antagonism f) military or technological advantage 2. Ideology that promotes personal - Focus on law and military, sense of - Confucianism and Legalism identification with the state, empire, leader, control of government, aka ‘way of the conquest, and/or militarism ancestors’; Roman gods/goddesses 3. Characteristics of well-run empires - Written law - Common language, legalism a) Building - Roads, bridges, aqueducts - Roads, bridges, etc (infrastructure) b) Trade increases - Trade increased through conquest - Organized power according to c) Cosmopolitan cities - Plebians, patiricians, tribunes, etc are bureaucracy d) Effective bureaucracy system of justice - Trade through the Silk Roads e) communication f) System of justice - Justice based on social order and 5 g) Citizenship or rights relationships 4. Major results of empire: - - a) Economic rewards b) Relative stability and prosperity c) Population increase 5. Empires fall because: - 476 - 220 a) Failure or leadership - B - B b) Expansion beyond a practical limit: - A (26 leaders in 49 years!!) - Yellow Turban Rebellion 184 d c) Lack of new conquests erodes - c - Eunuchs economic base and lessens faith in - Mandate of Heaven ideology that supported the empire d) Rebellions from within/ challenges - c from without 6. Hegemony vs. dominance

7. core vs. periphery