technological advances Essay

Submitted By matosabrina1234
Words: 491
Pages: 2

The Romans were known for road building utility, as well as architecture. Famous for cleverly improving their ways of life, the Han were very innovative and creative when it came to tool making. Although one may think technological advances facilitate arduous labor, the Han and Romans had different perceptions towards this concept. The Han valued creativity and technology, and saw inventions as a critical aspect necessary for growth. Whereas the Romans believed that craftsmen and inventors were vulgar and unbecoming. These documents show how some judged, appreciated, and took for granted the art of tool making. In documents one and two, it is apparent that the Han government is criticizing tools, and ordering improvement. A Han government official in document one is writing to a local official demanding that they establish water conservation offices. Huan Guan, another government official, in document two,is describing how the iron tools that workers utilized were crude and not very functional. At this time, the state had taken over the salt and iron trades causing tools to be hard and brittle unlike previous tools made by the workers themselves. Therefore Guan is encouraging tool development and speaking for the workers whose voice is usually unheard. This is also true for document one because workers are usually ignored. As seen in the previous documents the Han had a tendency of appreciating technological advances unlike the Romans. However, in documents six, one can see how creative and resourceful they were. To facilitate trade while adding grace and beauty, Gaius Gracchus built roads paying attention to traveler’s needs. A Roman general and water commissioner in document eight describes the abundance of water for both use and pleasure in various regions inside and outside the city. Huan Tan- a Han philosopher admires the work of Fuxi particularly the pestle and the mortar. He exemplifies the productiveness of this pestle and mortar that later was enhanced. Governor of Nanyang, Tu Shih was greatly admired