Rome and China: Ancient Empires today

1. Rome and China: Ancient Empires today Hx508: World Empires and Their Cultures

2. Today’s Lecture Roman Empire: History Roman Empire: Significance Chinese Empire: History Chinese Empire: Significance

3. Rome… Roman Republic founded 508 BCE Decline of the Republic 1st century BCE Interlude of triumvirates (Caesar) 60-27 BCE Emperor Augustus (Pax Romana) 27-14 AD Ancient Roman Empire 27 BCE-486 AD? or Ancient Roman Empire 27 BCE-395 AD

4. What Rome left… A political language = imperium romanum imperium – the root of ‘empire’ (used from the 19th century on) Its association with armed might, law and civilisation monarchia = monarchy respublica = republic Political theoretical contemplation of the meanings of words.

5. Universalism and empire in the Americas France, Portugal, Spain and Britain all in the Americas Spain initially dominated and projected itself as the universal empire Spain - art + political theory Portuguese - excellence of their sciences The French – 16th century courtly ceremony + legal codes English – models of civilized people English – Victorian belief in their own supreme empire

6. Roman Law Law should be based on justicia = ‘justice’ Legal principles and opinions codified to guide judges Open to modification according to prevailing community attitudes. Interpretation – important. Law divided between jus civile (civil law) and jus gentium (International law) Later ideals of the universal application of the law to all Principles of contractual relationship developed

7. US – the new Rome? ‘Empire’ – represents a singular ‘civilization’ to some + a barrier to the barbarians ‘Empire’ represents universal values to its supporters, not specific ethnic identity To opponents: represents ambition for unlimited expansion

8. China’s life A 3000-year old empire? A history of dynasties A feeling of Antiquity and continuity, despite the ruptures of power in the past China: a recent empire with a sense of longevity Rome: an Ancient empire which clearly finished, but which has left a legacy

9. Mongul rule (1215-1368) Largest land empire under one ruler - Genghis Khan’S empire stretched from China to central Europe Thirteenth and fourteenth century Mongol rule saw fluctuating boundaries Culturally and ethnically not accepted by the Chinese Nomadic empire Intercultural exchange across Eurasia Opened up trade routes across land and sea (1240-1340) A very unusual period in China’s past

10. Confucianism Philosophy of statehood Qing: neo-Confucian rationalism Mandarin elite were its guardians and the administrative corps of the state A cultured elite that promoted educational culture The Mandarins ensured continuity The Mandate of Heaven – the ruler had to govern with virtue and not according to ‘whim’ Disasters were a sign that the end of the dynasty was near Romans’ vox populi, vox Dei: ‘Heaven sees with the eyes of the people’

11. Qing China and the West China never colonized Opium Wars 1839-1842 Unequal treaties: economic, legal and diplomatic rights for foreigners A growing merchant class Reform movements Republicanism Empire fell in 1912

12. China after 1949 – end of empire? ‘Old ways’ despised as ‘feudal’, yet… Country reunified after decades of civil war – old imperial boundaries re-established Dominance of the ethnic Han Chinese Invasion of Tibet Early imperial traditions used in internal political conflicts of Maoist regime Vision of global pre-eminence Architecture and icons are reminiscent of the empire Practices of authoritarian rule (persecution,denouncements, execution) ‘Empire’ – represents a singular ‘civilization’ to some + a barrier to the barbarians ‘Empire’ represents universal values to its supporters, not specific ethnic identity To opponents: represents ambition for unlimited expansion

13. China – compared with Rome Both had tremendous reach far from their homelands Deep impact on the societies it governed

14. Principal works used Anthony Pagden Lords of All the World: Ideologies of Empire in Spain, Britain and France c. 1500-c. 1800 Anthony Pagden Spanish Imperialism and the Political Imagination Johann Arnason The Future that Failed Fernand Braudel, A History of Civilizations