The Chinese and Roman empires developed at opposite ends of Eurasia, yet each built long-lasting systems of power, culture and influence. This course compares these two great empires, tracing their rise, expansion, leadership, achievements and decline.

You’ll explore both the parallels and the differences in governance, innovation, mythology and historical reach, while considering how their legacies still shape the modern world. No prior knowledge is needed... just curiosity about history, ideas and the stories of civilisation!

DELIVERY MODE

• Face-to-Face

SUGGESTED READING

• Walter Scheidel, 2009, Rome and China: Comparative Perspectives on Ancient World Empires, Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-533690-0
• Walter Scheidel, 2015, State Power in Ancient China and Rome, Oxford University Press. ISBN: 978-0-19-020224-8
• Walter Scheidel, 2019, ESCAPE FROM ROME The Failure of Empire and the Road to Prosperity, Princeton University Press. ISBN 9780691172187
• Peter Fibiger Bang, C. A. Bayly, Walter Scheidel, 2021, The Oxford World History of Empire: Volume Two: The History of Empires, Oxford University Press. ISBN 978–0–19–753276–8

COURSE OUTLINE

• Origins of the Chinese and Roman empires in the East and West
• Shared characteristics of the two political institutional systems
• Differences of religion, education, trade, tax, law and administration systems
• Art, culture, and technological advancements
• Causes of their critical good and bad times.
• How their successors shaped today’s world

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Analyse the ways in which human migration, geography, cultural and institutional traditions, and historical events influenced the origin, expansion, stability, and eventual transformation of each empire.
2. Compare the legal, and administrative systems of the Roman and Chinese empires, identifying both structural similarities and differences.
3. Interpret the cultural tradition, technological innovations, and artistic expressions of both empires, and explain how different ideas contributed to their long-term legacy.
4. Assess the impact of Rome and China on the development of modern Western and Eastern political thought, and cultural identity.