The Roman Empire and the Gupta Empire

Thousands of years back into our world’s history there were numerous empires which each grew differently. Even though no two were exactly alike some shared incredible similarities. Two of these empires -- The Roman Empire in Europe, and the Gupta Empire in India -- were very similar in the way that they developed even though they were separate from one another. They had a similar basis for their economies which allowed them to thrive, and shared many aspects to their social structures. But the two empires differed slightly in their political set up.

Both empires had economies which were successful and based on the same foundations. Rome exported mostly olive oil, wine, and metalwork while the Gupta empire exported salt, cotton, and spices. The Roman Empire had a huge trade network that went around several continents, it reached as far as North Africa, England, and the Middle East. The Gupta Empire’s routes did not extend as far, but were equally as successful. For its size it had a relatively large international trade network which consisted of empires and civilizations located in the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, The Persian Gulf, and the Red Sea. Both were known to have traded along the Silk Road. In addition they both had monetary systems. The more popular Roman currency was the Denarius, and the name of the Gupta currency is unknown. Both empires made their coins out of either brass, silver, copper, or gold. In addition to their strong trade systems, both had a strong agricultural aspect to their economy. These two elements combined gave them the key to having a super efficient and prosperous economy, which gave them a strong standing in the world.

Regarding their social structures, both empires had very similar norms when it came to positions in society. On a the larger scale regarding the entire empires, both had capitals which were the center of wealth and social importance. In important Roman cities such as Rome and Constantinople there was an important place called the Forum, while in the Gupta Empire it had one very important city known as Pataliputra. Both were known for having a very distinct system of hierarchy. The Roman Empire’s system was divided into two main groups, which group you were in was determined at birth and you could rarely move up in society. The first group was the Patricians. There was a sort of myth history that said their blood line could be traced back to the very first consul of Rome. They were rich, educated, and had important roles in society such as positions in government and those who made lots of money off of trade and businesses. The second group was the Plebeians, who were all other citizens.