ebook img

Rome and China: Comparative Perspectives on Ancient World Empires PDF

257 Pages·2009·2.949 MB·English
Save to my drive
Quick download
Download

Download Rome and China: Comparative Perspectives on Ancient World Empires PDF Free - Full Version

by Walter Scheidel| 2009| 257 pages| 2.949| English

About Rome and China: Comparative Perspectives on Ancient World Empires

Two thousand years ago, up to one-half of the human species was contained within two political systems, the Roman empire in western Eurasia (centered on the Mediterranean Sea) and the Han empire in eastern Eurasia (centered on the great North China Plain). Both empires were broadly comparable in terms of size and population, and even largely coextensive in chronological terms (221 BCE to 220 CE for the Qin/Han empire, c. 200 BCE to 395 CE for the unified Roman empire). At the most basic level of resolution, the circumstances of their creation are not very different. In the East, the Shang and Western Zhou periods created a shared cultural framework for the Warring States, with the gradual consolidation of numerous small polities into a handful of large kingdoms which were finally united by the westernmost marcher state of Qin. In the Mediterranean, we can observe comparable political fragmentation and gradual expansion of a unifying civilization, Greek in this case, followed by the gradual formation of a handful of major warring states (the Hellenistic kingdoms in the east, Rome-Italy, Syracuse and Carthage in the west), and likewise eventual unification by the westernmost marcher state, the Roman-led Italian confederation. Subsequent destabilization occurred again in strikingly similar ways: both empires came to be divided into two halves, one that contained the original core but was more exposed to the main barbarian periphery (the west in the Roman case, the north in China), and a traditionalist half in the east (Rome) and south (China). These processes of initial convergence and subsequent divergence in Eurasian state formation have never been the object of systematic comparative analysis. This volume, which brings together experts in the history of the ancient Mediterranean and early China, makes a first step in this direction, by presenting a series of comparative case studies on clearly defined aspects of state formation in early eastern and western Eurasia, focusing on the process of initial developmental convergence. It includes a general introduction that makes the case for a comparative approach; a broad sketch of the character of state formation in western and eastern Eurasia during the final millennium of antiquity; and six thematically connected case studies of particularly salient aspects of this process.

Detailed Information

Author:Walter Scheidel
Publication Year:2009
ISBN:9780195336900
Pages:257
Language:English
File Size:2.949
Format:PDF
Price:FREE
Download Free PDF

Safe & Secure Download - No registration required

Why Choose PDFdrive for Your Free Rome and China: Comparative Perspectives on Ancient World Empires Download?

  • 100% Free: No hidden fees or subscriptions required for one book every day.
  • No Registration: Immediate access is available without creating accounts for one book every day.
  • Safe and Secure: Clean downloads without malware or viruses
  • Multiple Formats: PDF, MOBI, Mpub,... optimized for all devices
  • Educational Resource: Supporting knowledge sharing and learning

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it really free to download Rome and China: Comparative Perspectives on Ancient World Empires PDF?

Yes, on https://PDFdrive.to you can download Rome and China: Comparative Perspectives on Ancient World Empires by Walter Scheidel completely free. We don't require any payment, subscription, or registration to access this PDF file. For 3 books every day.

How can I read Rome and China: Comparative Perspectives on Ancient World Empires on my mobile device?

After downloading Rome and China: Comparative Perspectives on Ancient World Empires PDF, you can open it with any PDF reader app on your phone or tablet. We recommend using Adobe Acrobat Reader, Apple Books, or Google Play Books for the best reading experience.

Is this the full version of Rome and China: Comparative Perspectives on Ancient World Empires?

Yes, this is the complete PDF version of Rome and China: Comparative Perspectives on Ancient World Empires by Walter Scheidel. You will be able to read the entire content as in the printed version without missing any pages.

Is it legal to download Rome and China: Comparative Perspectives on Ancient World Empires PDF for free?

https://PDFdrive.to provides links to free educational resources available online. We do not store any files on our servers. Please be aware of copyright laws in your country before downloading.

The materials shared are intended for research, educational, and personal use in accordance with fair use principles.