Comparing Han China and Gupta India
During the classical period both Han China and Gupta India developed methods and analyzed
ways to have political control. Both empires were located in different regions but both used
social hierarchy, language and religion to gain and have political control. Even though both
empires were around at different time periods such as Han China (206 B.C.E-220 C.E) and
Gupta India (320 B.C.E-550 C.E), both empires shared similar beliefs and traditions for the
better of their empires that either harmed or helped.
Just like Han China, Gupta India used the same idea of social structure for control, although
quite differently. Social structures were used differently by each empire for example Han
China developed a social structure based on literacy while Gupta India created and introduce
a caste system based on skin color. Han China literacy social structure divided China
educationally, in that way lower classes were not capable and allowed to take Civil Service
exam and higher classes knowledgeably qualified to take the exam and become bureaucrats,
much of this developed from Confucianism. Gupta Indian caste system based on skin color
created the idea of lighter skinned people belonging in higher classes while the darker skin
colored belong in the lower class.
Government wise, Han China had a strong centralized government focused on authority and
order. Han China developed its ideas and orders much from Legalism, Taoism and
confucianism. Just like Legalism, in order to control the people and have order was to create
harsh punishments and rewards depending on the people’s behavior. Although Gupta India
was far different, its bureaucracy focused on regionalism. Hinduism originated from India
and focused on the law of cause and effect of one individual creating one destiny by thoughts,
words,deeds and actions, and depending on one’s action it created good or bad karma.
In conclusion both Han China and Gupta India struggled for political control and the good for
their people. Both empires created social structures that would help their empire, although
some of these structures helped and harmed at the same time. Government differed from one
another but focused on the same idea, Han China focused in a strictly way of order while
Gupta India did as well but a had major turn,such as creating Hinduism; for a way of people
to inspired to behave in society in order to have a good karma and live and healthy and good
life in the afterlife. Overall both these empires methods led to the conclusion whether it
worked or not, such as both empires succeeding for several centuries and then failing,
causing the collapse of both empires.