Torin Kubo

Pd. D
9/4/09

AP World History DBQ

The Han and Roman Societies were very powerful and illustrious, back from

around the first and second B.C.E to around the first century C.E. These various societies

were very interrelated with technology. Because of this, the Han and Roman’s attitude

towards technology was split. Some believed that it significantly improved life. Others

believed that it was degrading and put people in poverty. The third group believed that

technology had its place among the societies with its benefits as well as its drawbacks.

Both the Han and Roman believed that technology significantly improved life in

their societies. Huan Tan, an upper class Han philosopher in document three illustrates

how technology greatly improved production as well as greatly captured the power and

energy produced from various sources like oxen or water. As a philosopher in the 20 C.E.

he would be extremely pleased with the results of his study because it would greatly

please his ruler as well as keep his place in the society. Evidence also shows that a

Roman citizen and high official named Putarch in document six demonstrated how the

technology of roads greatly improved trade networks and transportation in the society.

This greatly shows how even citizens in the first century C.E. were greatly pleased about

technology and that it was a great benefit to the ruler’s as well as the citizens. It allows

you to see how technology benefitted not only the upper class but the lower classes as

well. Another piece by Roman general, governor of Britain and water commissioner

named Frontinus in document eight he showed and stated that their aqueducts for the city

were far greater in technology than the pyramids or Greek works. This was great

information given by a general and governor in the first century B.C.E because it

significantly improved the status of the society. Finally History of the Early Han
 Kubo,2

Dynasty in document four stated that a man named Tu Shih invented a machine that uses

water to create iron implements for agriculture that was adopted and used all over the

continent. This for a governor in c. 200 C.E. was helped and improved the life of the

commoners and showed how much it improved life in the societies. As you can see all

these documents greatly support the attitude of some of the people in the societies of the

Han and Roman that technology really enhanced the societies life. An additional writing

or diary entry that would be very helpful would be one from a peasant or commoner that

explained their views and if their views matched those of the higher officials. Also if

they had beneficial effects or disastrous outcomes.

Even though some people in the Han and Roman societies believe that technology

greatly improved life, others believed that it was degrading and put people in poverty in

the societies. Huan Guan, a Han government official in document two explains how with

the evolution of technology life for citizens turned for the worse. Because of the

discovery of iron the rulers monopolized or controlled this valued item that the poor

peasants weren’t able to get the important tools this lead to the to even more poverty in

the society. This for a government official in the first century B.C.E. threatens the

productivity of your society, which means no trade and money coming your way. For a

government official it isn’t a good situation. Another is a Roman political leader named

Cicero in document five illustrates that technology makes crafts and arts that were very

valuable degrading to the artisan cause they aren’t doing any work. This for a political

leader in the first century B.C.E. was very important and was very threatening because

there was a risk of not being able to trade with others for these valued items that he could

lose his position. These items back up these views because of the fact that they both
 Kubo,3

disagree with technology. A very important document or memoir that would have been

helpful would be one of a citizen in poverty or maybe even and artisan that allows us to

understand how they felt about technology and whether or not they benefitted or became

the way they are now because of it.

Finally one group believed that technology had its benefits and drawbacks. A

Han government official in document one explains that even though their water system is

great it requires a lot of maintenance. This for a government official in the second

century B.C.E. is very important information because even though it is very handy and

helpful it also requires that it needs to be supervised. Finally a Roman philosopher and

adviser to an Emperor in document seven illustrates that it doesn’t matter that technology

was invented to make life easier its just that they help but aren’t what they are made out

to be. As a philosopher and adviser in the first century C.E. this was great information to

the emperor because it allowed the emperor not be immersed in finding technology but to

just use it as a helper. These provide us with sufficient evidence in people whose

attitudes are neutral to the fact of technology. A great speech or writing from an emperor

would be very helpful because it would give us an understanding of how technology

benefited the society as well as how it had some problems or drawbacks with it and how

he felt about technology.

As you can see the Han and Roman’s had very split attitudes towards technology.

For one people believed that it significantly improved life, they were degrading and put

people in poverty as well as people who believe that it helped as but had its drawbacks.

These are all very significant and even though it was split, life in these very complex

societies still were very successful.