The Great Classical Cities
by Lauren Blumenfeld
China
During the Qin and Han dynasties, the Chinese state bureaucracy organized a system of training and educating future administrative officials. The bureaucracy was run by chosen officials who were selected from the systems of tests on Confucianism. These tests selected the educated and the ethical to run the bureaucracy.
During the Qin dynasty, the government was centralized and the whole dynasty was divided into 36 administrative units. Each unit was further divided. Each unit was governed by a civil officer. This bureaucratic system of officials was nonhereditary. Legalism was used to keep the government centralized and bureaucratic , the people respectful, and the unquestioned authority of the government.
During the Han dynasty the government was made up of ideas from the Qin dynasty combined with Confucianism. The officials of the bureaucracy were selected based on their ability and knowledge from tests rather than social status. They were tested on five of the classic writings of Confucius. Every three years the officials took this test. Their results either promoted or demoted them.
During the Qin dynasty, the government was centralized and the whole dynasty was divided into 36 administrative units. Each unit was further divided. Each unit was governed by a civil officer. This bureaucratic system of officials was nonhereditary. Legalism was used to keep the government centralized and bureaucratic , the people respectful, and the unquestioned authority of the government.
During the Han dynasty the government was made up of ideas from the Qin dynasty combined with Confucianism. The officials of the bureaucracy were selected based on their ability and knowledge from tests rather than social status. They were tested on five of the classic writings of Confucius. Every three years the officials took this test. Their results either promoted or demoted them.
Persia
The Achaemenid Empire of Persia was founded in the 6th century BCE by Cyrus the Great. The empire was ruled by monarchs who unified its discordant tribes and nationalities. Darius I gave the Persian government structure. Darius focused on three parts of the empire: organizing the empire into provinces, keeping the provinces in order, and keeping communication with his empire.
The king was the head of the government and shared his powers with Persian nobles. The empire was divided into provinces that were called satrapies. Each satrapy was ruled by a minor king called a satrap. To prevent the satraps from gaining too much power and rebelling, Darius ordered the provincial treasury officials, secretaries,and garrisons report to him, not the satrap. Other officials known as the "King's Ear" would travel to the satrapies to look into the satrap and his court's behavior and their records.
The Persian empire was extensive, so Persians took up the Assyrian practice of relay riders to deliver messages. The Persians constructed a system of roads with protection against bandits, stations with water and fresh horses, and inns for the travelers. These roads connected the vast empire.
The king was the head of the government and shared his powers with Persian nobles. The empire was divided into provinces that were called satrapies. Each satrapy was ruled by a minor king called a satrap. To prevent the satraps from gaining too much power and rebelling, Darius ordered the provincial treasury officials, secretaries,and garrisons report to him, not the satrap. Other officials known as the "King's Ear" would travel to the satrapies to look into the satrap and his court's behavior and their records.
The Persian empire was extensive, so Persians took up the Assyrian practice of relay riders to deliver messages. The Persians constructed a system of roads with protection against bandits, stations with water and fresh horses, and inns for the travelers. These roads connected the vast empire.
Rome
In 508 BCE, the Roman monarchy was overthrown and replaced with the Roman Republic. The Roman Republic allowed citizens to elect representatives to rule on their behalf. Early in the Republic, power was controlled by the patricians. The patricians were a privileged class of Roman citizens that gained their status as a birthright. The patricians had say over the final decisions made in the popular assemblies. This angered the plebeians, the poorer Roman citizens, who then created their own assemblies. With the "Conflict of Orders", the plebeians gained equality with the patricians. This order changed the birthright of aristocracy to where aristocracy was based on the holding of positions in political offices and land-based wealth.
The elected Roman representatives experienced a system of check and balances and were limited in terms of political office. The Senate was the only permanent governing body and governed all finances, foreign affairs, and state administration.
Then, the Rome changed into the Roman Empire when Augustus Caesar became the first emperor in 31 BCE. Augustus kept the form of the republic- the Senate, consuls, and public assemblies. As he acquired his vast power, he took up the title of "first man" rather than "emperor". He carried out sole authority and was supported by his power of a professional army. As the empire continued, emperors were less hesitant to show off their rights.
The elected Roman representatives experienced a system of check and balances and were limited in terms of political office. The Senate was the only permanent governing body and governed all finances, foreign affairs, and state administration.
Then, the Rome changed into the Roman Empire when Augustus Caesar became the first emperor in 31 BCE. Augustus kept the form of the republic- the Senate, consuls, and public assemblies. As he acquired his vast power, he took up the title of "first man" rather than "emperor". He carried out sole authority and was supported by his power of a professional army. As the empire continued, emperors were less hesitant to show off their rights.
South Asia
In India, The Mauryan Empire (326-184 BCE) was founded by Chandragupta Maurya. The empire was a highly organized and efficient autocracy. The Mauryan Empire had a large military force that consisted of 600,000 infantry soldiers, 30,000 cavalry, 8,000 chariots, and 9,000 elephants. This bureaucracy had several ministries and group of spies to give rulers local information. The emperor Ashoka, who reigned from 268-232 BCE, left his record and thinking on stone edicts. Rather than campaigning to expand the empire, Ashoka sent Buddhist emissaries throughout Asia and authorized some of the most excellent pieces of Indian art.
Like the Mauryan Empire, during the Gupta Empire (320-550 CE), the kings were the center of the political system. The empire was divided into four provinces. Each province was administered by an appointed viceroy. Each administrative center of each province could carry out decisions for that province. During the Gupta Empire, India experienced a Golden Age in the arts, sciences, and religions. Hindu and Buddhist temples were built throughout the empire by the Gupta rulers. The rulers also enforced a strict caste system.
Like the Mauryan Empire, during the Gupta Empire (320-550 CE), the kings were the center of the political system. The empire was divided into four provinces. Each province was administered by an appointed viceroy. Each administrative center of each province could carry out decisions for that province. During the Gupta Empire, India experienced a Golden Age in the arts, sciences, and religions. Hindu and Buddhist temples were built throughout the empire by the Gupta rulers. The rulers also enforced a strict caste system.
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2014. Web. 2 Feb. 2014.
<http://archive.school.eb.com/eb/article-9051518>.
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http://ed101.bu.edu/StudentDoc/Archives/ED101sp07/barborek/handynasty.htm
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Strayer, Robert. Ways of the World. 2nd ed. Bedford/St. Martin's, 2013. 133. Print.
"Mauryan empire." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2014. Web. 2 Feb. 2014.
<http://archive.school.eb.com/eb/article-9051518>.
http://www.theindianhistory.org/Gupta/gupta-empire-government.html
http://www.historybits.com/gupta.htm