Samuel+O


 * What Makes an Empire?**

Rafael Lefort is a game designer who wants to create a new //Age of Empires//-style video game for Han China and Imperial Rome. To help Mr. Lefort decide which features of each empire he should travel back in time to visit and include in his game, you'll need to research each dynasty and present your key findings on the following questions:

= **Key Questions:** =
 * 1) What is the difference between an ‘empire’ and a ‘civilization'?
 * 2) What are some of the major similarities and differences between the Roman Empire and Han Dynasty?
 * 3) Why are the Han Dynasty and Roman Empire important to World History?

=Resources= Your research will be confined to the following web resources and library databases. If you wish to use a resource not on this list you must seek approval from your teacher.

**Rome**
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 * China **
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 * __ [|http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/CHEMPIRE/FORMHAN.HTM] __
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 * Library Databases **
 * @http://www.micdslibrary.com/databases.html

Scroll down to the History/Social Studies menu; the ABCCLIO Ancient World History database is particularly helpful.

=Research and Citations= Use the space below to record your research for each question. Remember that you will need to cite your sources using the format found on the MICDS Library resource page.

What is the difference between an ‘empire’ and a ‘civilization'?
- An empire is a collection of states, colonies, and allies that are bound together under the rule of a monarch, or emperor. Civilization is a term used to describe a certain kind of development of a human society. This includes advanced agriculture, long-distance trade, occupational specialization, and urbanism. A civilization can practice any kind of government, any religion. In an empire, the citizens must follow the laws the emperor has made, no matter how vile it may be. === What are some of the major similarities and differences between the Roman Empire and Han Dynasty? === - There are many differences and similarities between the Romans and the Han. Just to start, The religion is way different. The Romans based their religion on Greek Mythology. The Han based their religion on many diverse religions: Buddhism, Daoism, Legalism, and Confucianism. These seemingly different religions are based on the basic rule of "working hard brings many rewards." Other differences include location, geography, and ways of thinking. These differences define how the east and west look so different today. Even with all those differences, The Roman Empire has some similarities with the Han Dynasty. When Rome and Han was was first founded, their method of farming was relatively the same, including irrigation, ploughing, etc. Also both used natural boundaries to protect themselves, Rome using The Rhine and The Danube Rivers to the north, The Sahara to the south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. China used the rigorous climate and grography that kept them safe- and isolated, which is a mixed blessing. Both the Roman Empire and the Han Dynasty became abrogated by the same conflicts. One of the main reasons was due to the great military power of the Germanic legions constantly making attempts to invade the Roman Empire and the Northern Nomads attacking the Han. It was very costly to protect their borders from the perpetual invasions sent out by the enemy leaders. Not even the great Julius Caesar was able to stop the invasions from these barbarous tribes. Soon both their economies began to suffer from the high prices of protecting their borders from these imperishable invasions. They also both lacked in electing a new ruler that would unify them and bring them back to their "Pax Romana." For example, after Claudius passed away, Nero "The Madman of Rome," replaced him. This was definitely not going to help the Roman Empire. He added his part in helping Rome's economy to fall apart by raising taxes, opposing religious toleration, and much more. After Nero commited suicide, Galba took command but would soon prove to be inferior to the previous emperors like Augustus who managed to maintain a strong, flourishing empire. The Han Dynasty and the Roman Empire could simply not expect to advance with poor leadership and strong enemy invasions. Still, the Romans and the Han both made many introductions and inventions to the world: gunpowder, aqueducts, suspension bridges, professional armies, compasses, etc. These differences, both critical and petty, play an important part in defining the words east and west today.

Why are the Han Dynasty and Roman Empire important to World History?
- The Han Dynasty and the Roman Empire are important to history simply put that most of the ingenious things we use every day were probobly introduced by Han and Roman inventors. The Romans invented hard, long lasting roads to move their armise around quicker, aqueducts to move water around cleanly and comfortably, cement for roads, advanced medical tools to help patients (mainly with all of Rome's wars on its enemies), and a stable government divided into 3 branches, very similar to the government we use today. The Han invented the hot air balloon, embroidery, a drawloom,which makes weaving much easier, stirrups to meneuver a horse more easily, the rudder to steer ships, the compass for navigation, the seismograph, for detecting earthquakes, the wheelbarrow, to haul things around more easily, beutiful glazed pottery, ironmaking, for better quality tools and weapons, paper, and the enormous silk road, that connected east and west through trade. Diplomacy also prevailed. The Han were probobly the first ever to connect most of the known world in a network of democracy, not like the U.N, but spread ideas and ways of doing things to different areas and totally change their religion or technology. This is how the Romans found out about silk, the Han about glass, the Arabs, both.

Similarities and Differences
Before deciding which dynasty your client should visit, you may wish to create a simple Venn Diagram to compare/contrast the two empires. You may use [|this template] or create one online at Read-Write-Think. === Which features of each empire should Mr. Lefort travel back in time to visit and include in his game? Why? === In my idea, the Game into chaosshould include everything basic to start a thriving civilization. It's like you are dropped into Italy, build Rome, and expand outward into the colossal empire it would become, continue to expand, or fall into chaos like it did in history. Same for China. The idea is to use art and architecture, technology, nearby rescources, and economy and expand outward. Art and Architecture to improve life and make things extravagant, technology the promote ways of living and effectiveness of army, nearby rescources like water to use as a resevoir or as a border line, and economy to use money wisely on needed rescources. To make things short, Mr. Lefort should include features of Imperial Rome and Han China that are needed to help an empire flourish and actually last "for 10,000 generations." = **Travel Poster Components:** =

You will create a travel poster for each of the two empires. Each poster should be attractive, persuasive, and highlight the major features related to your topic. You will create the posters using Glogster.edu (instructions will be provided in class) and they should contain the following components:

__**Travel Poster Components**__
 * 1) One Glogster.edu poster for each empire
 * 2) At least three "must see" tourist features to include in the game for each empire that characterize what it means to be an empire with detailed text and relevant images
 * 3) At least one audio recording for each empire

The **[|Poster Rubric]** will be used to evaluate your work; you should refer to it before handing in your final product. When you have completed the poster, embed it below the "Travel Poster" heading below:

Travel Poster
//embed your poster here by copying the embed code from Glogster and adding an HTML widget//

= **Oral Presentation Guidelines** = The presentation is your opportunity to explain the importance of Han China and Imperial Rome and should follow these guidelines:


 * 1) Less than 3 minutes in length
 * 2) Should address/explain the "must see" features of each empire that should be included in the game
 * 3) Should explain why each empire is important to world history

This presentation is about speaking skills and the use of your poster. You will be permitted to use notecards but are NOT to simply read your notes to the audience. The **[|Presentation Rubric]** will be used to evaluate your work; you should refer to it before giving your final presentation.