Roman Empire vs Han Dynasty: Two Superpowers at the Same Time
Two thousand years ago, the world had two superpowers at opposite ends of Asia. The Roman Empire ruled the Mediterranean and the Han Dynasty ruled China. Each had around 60 million people. They traded through the Silk Road, but almost never met.
Roman Empire vs Han Dynasty at a glance
| Roman Empire | Han Dynasty | |
|---|---|---|
| Dates | 27 BC to 476 AD in the west | 206 BC to 220 AD |
| Largest area | About 5 million km² | About 6 million km² |
| People | Around 60 to 70 million at its height | Around 58 million in a census of 2 AD |
| Capital | Rome | Chang’an, later Luoyang |
| Ruler | Emperor | Emperor, the Son of Heaven |
| Big ideas | Roman law and citizenship | Confucian government and official exams |
| Famous inventions | Concrete, aqueducts, long paved roads | Paper, the seismoscope, the wheelbarrow |
| How it ended | The west broke up in the 400s | Split into the Three Kingdoms in 220 |
Linked by silk
Chinese silk travelled west along the Silk Road and Roman gold flowed east, passing through the hands of Parthian, Kushan and Indian traders. Romans called China the land of the Seres, the silk people. Chinese records called Rome Da Qin. A Chinese envoy, Gan Ying, set out for Rome in 97 AD but turned back in the Middle East.
Did they ever meet?
Chinese history records that in 166 AD a group claiming to be sent by the Roman emperor arrived at the Han court by sea. Historians think they may have been merchants rather than official envoys. It is the only recorded contact between the two empires.
Quick facts
- Most people in China today still call themselves Han, after the dynasty.
- Roman roads ran for tens of thousands of kilometres.
- Han China improved papermaking around 105 AD, credited to Cai Lun.
- Both empires built walls on their frontiers: Hadrian’s Wall and the Han Great Wall.
- The two empires together held perhaps half of all the people on Earth.
Roman Empire vs Han Dynasty questions
Did the Roman Empire and Han China exist at the same time?
Yes. They overlapped for more than 200 years, from 27 BC to 220 AD.
Which was bigger, Rome or Han China?
They were similar. Han China covered about 6 million km² and Rome about 5 million km²; both had around 60 million people.
Did Rome and China ever meet?
Chinese records describe visitors from Rome arriving in 166 AD, probably merchants. Otherwise they knew each other only through traders.
What did Rome buy from China?
Above all, silk.
How did the Han Dynasty end?
Rebellions and powerful warlords broke it up in 220 AD into the Three Kingdoms.
More face-offs: see all 3D comparisons.
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