Compare and contrast the empires of ancient Rome and China. Be sure to explore religion, government, life for peasants, and public works. How were the empires similar and different?

Rome:

Religion - Roman mythology until about 320CE, when it was replaced by Christianity.

Government - From a Republic to an Empire. The beginning stages were run like a republic, and then a Triumvirate, and then a dictatorship.

Peasant life - If you weren't important, you lived in poverty. Peasants had very little land and rights.

Public Works - Gigantic road systems all across Europe were implemented, and aqueducts were established for water transport.

China (Han Dynasty):

Religion - there was no "religion," but instead there were two very important lifestyles and ways of ideology - - Confucianism and Taoism. Confucianism was a very conservative religion that focused on respecting your elders, while Taoism demonstrated a "live and let live" lifestyle.

Government - The emperor of China ruled with a divine power, called the Mandate of Heaven. The MoH determined when a ruler was fit to rule, and a declining empire would "lose" the MoH.

Peasant life - peasants still weren't as valuable as rich people, but they fared better than in Rome. In cities, poor people had a tough time, but in rural communities the farmers flourished and were respected.

Public Works - The Terracotta army was established immediately before the Han Dynasty, although that might not count (as it was technically the Qin Dynasty). The Great Wall of China was the Han Dynasty's most impressive feat, spanning across the entire country.