Han and Roman Attitudes Toward Technology

Prompt A

Two of the most powerful empires of the ancient world were the Han, in China, and the Romans, in Italy. The Han Dynasty and the Roman Empire had differences and similarities, and these differences and similarities can be observed through their respective attitudes toward technology.

The Han’s attitude toward technology can be discovered through the type of technology they used. Agriculturists and craftsman were one of the largest classes in the Han Empire. Because of this, innovation was simple and intended to benefit the lives of the working class. Huan Tan, a Han philosopher, wrote about the invention of the pestle and mortar and its evolution with the addition of animals and water power, and Huan Guan, a Han government official, speaks of the processes of iron foundry work and salt making. (Huan Guan, Doc 2.) (Huan Tan, Doc 3), Later, in 200 AD, Tu Shih, a Han governor invented a water-powered engine that forged iron agricultural implements for the Han people. Pestle and mortar, iron tools, and salt to season crops were technologies the Han valued, because they were used for the most popular occupations in the empire: agriculture and craftsmanship. (History of the Early Han Dynasty, Doc 4) The Han did not only invest in the technology small tools provided. We can infer from a report by a Han government official regarding flood prevention that the Han Dynasty also enjoyed waterways that went through several, if not all, districts of the Han Empire. (Han government official, Doc1) The Han Dynasty’s attitude toward technology was characterized by the necessity of its people, who were agriculturists and craftsman.

Rome’s attitude toward technology can be found not only in the type of technology they created, but also through the types of technology they intentionally avoided. Since their inception, Roman’s have had a fierce sense of nationalism and patriotism. Nationalism is a sense of complete loyalty to a nation, and the belief that it is greater than all others. Because the Roman’s had a devoted loyalty to their nation and believed it was greater than all others, they desired to show this through their far-reaching innovations. For example, the grand project of road building, put forth by political official Gaius Grachus, would become one of Rome’s most prized technologies. (Plutarch, Doc 6) Another Roman innovation was the implementation of waterways. Frontinius, a Roman general and water commissioner, wrote a report on the expanse of Roman waterways, detailing that that the supply was sufficient enough to be used for both necessity and pleasure in “fountains, public buildings, and for multiple public uses.” (Frontinius, Doc 8) Looking at the types of Roman innovation in ancient times, it is easy to see that they were grand undertakings compared the Han’s pestle and mortar. The intention was to send a message. Any traveler, trekking through Rome