Rome and Han DBQ

Although technology often benefited Han and Roman life, attitudes towards its use in
society changed because of varying opinions on the control of water, use of tools, and labor
required to complete tasks.
Multiple opinions on the control of water, such as the prevention of floods and
construction of aqueducts affected attitudes towards technology. In early second century B.C.E. a
Han government official writes to local officials concerning flood prevention. Because this
document was written by a Han government official concerning flood prevention it can be
trusted because it is unlikely that a government official would make false requests to prevent
flooding in his own empire (doc 1). This document emphasizes the importance of flood
prevention technology in ancient Han society. Flood prevention was taken so seriously that those
who were skilled in the ways of water were called to share their knowledge in this particular
field. The Roman general and water commissioner Frontinus describes the function of the cities
aqueducts and their impact on Roman life. As a Roman general and water commissioner for the
city of Rome, Frontinus would have naturally said that his aqueducts were far more beneficial
than Egyptian and Greek technology because he wanted to receive respect and recognition for
the aqueducts he was in charge of (doc 8). Roman citizens, both upper and lower classes
treasured the technology which granted them the use of plentiful water in their city. Without the
aqueducts, water would have had no way to reach Rome and the empires capital would have
quickly fallen apart.
Several opinions on the use and quality f tools also affected the overall attitude towards
technology. A Han government official discusses the recent decline of tool quality and its effect
on laborers. Because this document was written by a hand government official concerning the
quality of workers tools, it cannot be trusted because an upper-class government official would
have had little to no experience with the lower class workers tools during the changing
conditions (doc 2). The use of tools was crucial in the salt and iron mining business which the
Han economy thrived on. Even those not in the iron and salt business required tools to plow their
fields and feed their families. Ad upper class Roman political leader expresses his lack of respect
for those who are skilled in the field of craft making. As an upper class Roman political leader,
Cicero would have naturally said no workshop can have anything enlightening about it because
he would have wanted to receive recognition for any form of new technology that would benefit
the empire (doc 5). As an upper class political leader, Cicero would have spent little to no time in
workshops crafting inventions. Although the technology benefited both him and his empire he
did not want people to respect the lower class crafts men more than they respected him. A roman
philosopher and adviser to Emperor Nero discusses his opinions on those who invent tools and
crafts. As an upper class Roman Philosopher and advisor to Emperor Nero, Seneca would have
naturally said that tools were not invented by wise men because he would likely have been
unable to create such tools and was jealous of the credit men of lower class were getting (doc 7).
Similar to Cicero, Seneca did not want the men who created tools in workshops to gain fame and
respect than himself. He acknowledges that the tools are beneficial to society but doesnt credit
the minds of the men working.
The third significant factor that affected the attitude of technology is the amounts of labor
required to complete most tasks. Huan Tan, an upper class Han Philosopher describes the
inventions crafted by the mythological emperor Fuxi and its impact on Han labor. Because this
document was written by an upper class Han philosopher describing the effectiveness of several
of Fuxis inventions, it cannot be trusted because Fuxi is a mythological emperor and never
actually existed (doc 3). Even though the origin of the inventions are not known, the benefits and
effectiveness of their use were accepted. As the inventions developed further, its efficiency
increased greatly and its use in society was more appreciated. A government sponsored
document credits governor Tu Shih as being a peaceful and generous man who wished to save
the common peoples labor. As a government sponsored history document, the author would
have naturally said that the emperor loved the common people and wished to save their labor
because they wanted to boost the governors image among the people (doc 4) Men of higher
class understood that technology and their image to the lower class affected their position. These
men would have said anything to gain respect and power, including lying about their
accomplishments and contribution to technologic advancements. Plutarch, a Greek born Roman
citizen and high official describes the Roman political leader Gaius Gracchus. Because this
document was written in first century C.E. by a Greek born roman citizen describing a second
century B.C.E. Roman political leader it is likely unreliable because it was written almost 300
years after the emperors rule by someone who was not a natural born Roman citizen (doc 6). As
Romanization led to many groups of people joining the empire, people grew further away from
Romes past. Although people appreciated the work that had been done, they did not understand
where it had originated from.
Due to the changing environments of the Han and Roman empires, attitudes towards
technology were influenced by opinions on the control of water, use of tools, and labor required.