HUM 3.02 Two Empires under the Sun: Han China and the Roman Empire
Two modern superpowers, China and the United States, trace their origins back to ancient China and Rome. The empires of Han China and the Roman Republic/early Principate (3rd century BCE to 3rd century CE) inhabited opposite edges of the Eurasian land mass and shared no common roots. Yet they make for compelling case studies; key documents from written texts to artifacts such as coins, tombs, murals and inscriptions will help us explore these civilizations' ideas about the universe, empire, family, and the human body. Students will compare the societies, politics, and cultural frameworks of Han China and Rome to see the value of deep historical perspective for understanding the modern world and cultural difference.