History DBQ Essay

Submitted By Fredy305
Words: 1310
Pages: 6

Did they really differ that much? Many have wondered how great were the differences between two world’s most famous early civilizations. The two classical civilizations are Athenian Greece and Han China. This wondering should be over because it is obvious that these two civilizations were greatly different. They were different in many ways. For example, civilizations were different in that they lived in different environments, their art was different, their way of governing wasn’t the same, the men’s responsibilities were different, also their attitudes toward children were different, finally their attitude towards women was very different. As stated before their environment was very different. To begin with, from the maps created from varied sources (Document A) it shows how Athens is more to the west and Han China is more to the east. The map shows that their geographical features were different, which means they had different ways of living since they had adapted to how the land was shaped. Also, in Population estimates from mixed sources (Documents B and C) it shows that the total population of Attica (Athens plus Environs) was 315,000 this is a big difference compared to the total population of the Han China which was 65,000,000. This shows how they were not similar in environment. Another big difference was their art. The way the Classical Athens and the Han China citizens reasons for doing art was different. For instance, in the image “Discus Thrower” (Document K) it shows a strong man there is also a quote under it that says, “The world is full of wonders but nothing is more wonderful than man” (Sophocles). This shows that they praised men and men most likely had more rights than women and they basically ruled. Also, there is an image named “Landscape in the Style of Li T’ang”(Document L) and it is like a picture of nature and in the bottom there is a quote that reads, “Each separate being in the universe returns to the common source. Returning to the source is serenity”(Lao-tzu). This means they highly value nature and nature is a place to be calm and untroubled. This shows how they differed in art. They also had different ways of government. In “A Remarkably Successful Kind of Government”(Document G) it says“…(The Emperor) appointed governors to each district of his domain, who exercised military and legal powers in the name of the emperor”(Stearns). Also again in Mandate of Heaven (Document F) it says, “The Emperor can recommend a man to Heaven but he can not make Heaven give this man the Empire”(Lau). Theses both quotes show that the emperor and the people he chose called the shots where in the Athens it was different. In “Government in Athens”(Document E) is says, “In most precise and literal sense of the world, the Athenians governed themselves”(Bowra). Also In “Our form of government is…”(Document D) it states, “Our form of government is called a democracy because its administration is in the hands, not of a few, but of the wholes peoples” (Pericles). This means that everyone had a say in the way of governing. This all shows how the Athens and Han China contrasted in government. A man’s responsibility to his state was different in Athens than in Han China. For example, in “What is a Good Citizen?” (Document H) it says, “ we do not say that a man who takes no interest in politics is a man who minds his own business; we say that he has no business here at all” (Pericles). This means that every man had to pay attention and be involved in the states politics. While in Han China it was completely different, in “Confucius on the Individual and the State” (Document J) it says, “ Fathers cover up for their sons, and sons cover up for their fathers” (Lau). This means that they wanted the men not to snitch on each other. This shows the men’s individual responsibilities to the states. Not to mention their attitudes towards children were different too. For instance, in “On the decision to expose a newborn…”