Han and Roman Dynasty View on Technology

After studying the provided documents (#1-8) its come to my understanding that both the Han and Roman empires thought of technology as useful and somewhat revolutionary, but both of them had somewhat different feelings of it. The Han dynasties attitude toward technology was that they thought it was very benefical, and they admired it. The reason this was because they though it to be very helpful in agriculture and construction purposes. Evidence of the positive effects of this can be seen in Document 4: History of the Early Han Dynasty which tells of a governer of Nanynay and as the very generous and loving person he was his policies also refelcted his personality. He had so much love for his people he wanted to lift weight of their shoulders and make their lives a little easier by inventing a water-powered blowing-engine which was enjoyed by eveyone adopted and spread his invention. The Roman empire however were not as positive about technology as the Hans. Even though they appreciated it to some extent the main viewpoint from the documents suggested that they thought of it was a bit demeaning also. Evidence can be found in Document 7, written by an upper-class Roman philospher and adviser which was saying that he did not believe that tools were created by â€Å"wise men† meaning a very developed mind, or someone who was thinking outside the box. He believe like the hammer for instance was created by a simple minded human, though its a very popular tool it was not advanced a tool as it could've been. Han and Romans both used technology for conservation and storage purposes of water in the environment. In Document 1 written by a Han goverment official. He wrote about the most efficent ways to ensure that flooding would be prevented. He thinks everyone should cooperate togther as a team, the high officals should patrol each side of the river and the common people should help in construction and repair. They welcome technology in this way because it will be saving the lives of people. In Document 8 written by a Roman general, governer of Britain, Frontinus, and water commissioner for city of Rome which basically brags about how great and sufficient their water system of distribution and compares it even to the great pyramids using the word ide meaning a waste of time, non functioning. By saying this you could imply how they looked down upon other structures that weren't their own, no matter how great. Saying that their construction is both useful and a marval and ts just something pretty to look at. The Roman empire and Han dynasty both needed technology to be able to help with their agricultural and structure building accuracy. In Document 6 written by Plutarch, Greek-born Roman citizen and high officals describe second-century B. C. E Roman political leader Gaius Gracchus, first century C. E. he is admired for his appliance[->0] of the condtion plan of the grace, beauty, detailed that he put into he design of the columns and the other monuments of Rome. In Document 3: New Discourses written by Hauan Tan an upper-class Han philopsher is saying how a mythological wise emperor Fuxi invented the pestle and mortar after it was imporved it thus notably increased the efficiency in China. These 2 documents show that technology was used profusely and was progressing. Document 2: written bu Huan Guan a han goverment offical, Discourses on Salt and Iron he describes how the salt and iron markets begin to manufacture backwards or useless tools. Previously these tools were quite excellent in quality but now that the state has monopolized the salt and iron trades most of the tools provided are hard to work with. This is a view by the Romans that demonsrtaes the more negative side of technlogy or how they were highly upset and unimpressed with the technology. In Document 5 written but Ciero and upper class political leader On Duty he finds that working in a workshop is not only degrading but he doesn't find it enlightening or in other words he thinks that it's useless. Ciero finds no use for technology, and that may be beacuse of his high placing in society he's not in touch with the world of craftsmen whatsoever so there is of course no use for it to him. Another example of a high class official having a negative view was in 7, like stated before Seneca believed that tools were useless he an adviser to Emperor Nero so that could be a reason why his views were different. The lower ranking people, or commoners can only use tools so that's why I believe that they were so grateful for the technology they were given ot provided with. The upper class people only use the finished poduct they don't know the importance of tools. The Roman and Han both found technoloy very useful and an everyday neccessary. Although the Han viewed the technology verey beneficial for their agriculture and praised the advanced tools and their inventors and well as their own work. The Romans only appreciated the product of technology and its design and craftmeship. Both civilizations technology was very imortant and helped to advance both that can still be seen in China today. [-;0] – /Dictionary/search? q=define+appliance=DTPDIA