Two thousand years ago, the Qin/Han and Roman empires were the largest
political entities of the ancient world, developing simultaneously yet
independently at opposite ends of Eurasia. Although their territories
constituted only a small percentage of the global land mass, these two
Eurasian polities controlled up to half of the world population and
endured longer than most pre-modern imperial states. Similarly, their
eventual collapse occurred during the same time. The parallel nature
of the Qin/Han and Roman empires has rarely been studied
comparatively. Yet here is a collection of pioneering case studies,
compiled by Walter Scheidel, that sheds new light on the prominent
aspects of imperial state formation. This essential new volume builds
on the foundation of Scheidel's Rome and China (2009), and opens up a
comparative dialogue among distinguished scholars. They provide unique
insights into the complexities of imperial rule, including the
relationship between rulers and elite groups, the funding of state
agents, the determinants of urban development, and the rise of
bureaucracies. By bringing together experts in each civilization,
State Power in Ancient China and Rome provides a unique forum to
explore social evolution, helping us further understand government and
power relations in the ancient world.
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Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9780190202255
Publisert
2020
Utgave
1. utgave
Utgiver
Vendor
Oxford University Press
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Digital bok
Forfatter