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Judith Paulino  

Ms. Ryan  

World History  

December 2nd, 2020  

Classical Athens and Han China: How Great Were the Differences? 

Classical Athens and Han China were the pillar civilizations when they were at their

peak. When Classical Athens and Han China were at their golden age, it was in the 5th century

(BE). It was Classical Athens that developed their way of democratic government and

new photophysical ways on the world (BE). While farther to the east of Greece, Han China was

inventing instruments and making an industry of silk supply (BE). Although there were

similarities, were these civilizations more alike or different? Regarding the various ways

Classical Athens and Han China civilized, it can be greatly determined they were more different.

This can be concluded from their differences between their population, government, and

citizenship. 

It goes without saying that Classical Athens and Han China had a major gap difference in

their population. Ultimately Han China had a larger population when compared to Classical

Athens. When focusing on the charts, Han China had a total of 65,000,000 residents while

Classical Athens had 315,000 (Doc 2 and 3). It is clear that Han China is far greater in

comparison based on how many people lived on their land mass. With Han China being two-

hundred times larger in size to Classical Athens’s population. Already the two are on completely

opposite sides of a spectrum when it comes to total people occupying their land mass. The two

civilizations were different on the fact from how many people in total were under their

population. Since, a major factor playing into the differences in population is their geographic
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dimensions. Given that “Classical Greece was not a unified country…it was a disconnected

collection of city-states” (BE). This gave Han China the advantage to have a higher population

since they had an entire country base to spread out into. Based on the map scales and the overall

size of the two civilizations, Han China was much larger in size (Doc 1). Hence, Han China had

much more space to occupy their population then Classical Athens did. Although Classical

Athens during the golden age was the largest-city state at the time. Comparatively Classical

Athens was inferior to Han China by the size of their terrain. The overall capacity was what

made their gap population so drastic from each other. In reality population alone wasn’t the only

major factor that made them so different comparatively. It could be concentrated down to how

Han China and Classical Athens formed their government around their standards.

Furthermore, it was Classical Athens and Han China’s structured government that made

the two civilization less alike. Under the rule of Pericles, Classical Athens was structured on

democratic rule where no one was above the law (Doc 4). Their way of government was to have

more of a people say in governmental affairs. Although their voters were only limited to free

adult males (Doc 5). This excluded any other people living in Athens like slaves, women, or

children. Nevertheless, Classical Athens government was centered around the fact that the people

were able to elect their officials. Classical Athens way of government was democratic, meaning

that the people chose how the government would be ruled. While in Han China they believed in

the Mandate of Heaven, where it was heaven who would choose the next emperor (Doc 6).

Ultimately both Classical Athens and Han China had different way on how to choose their

leaders. For instance, in Athens they had assemblies or groups of people to cast votes to

determine their next ruler. But in Han China their emperors were decided on the process of the

Mandate of Heaven where it was the heavens that would pass on the authority to another family.
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Although the emperor was the higher ruler it was heaven that was dignified as being more

powerful (Doc 7). But in Athens the only higher authority was the ruler and at the time it was

Pericles. Classical Athens and Han China’s rule of government was oriented on different

standards. With Athens being focused on law and equality but for Han China it was about belief

in the heavens. There were also other ways their role in government differed, it was their acting

play as a citizen and their morals. 

As a citizen the way someone’s acting role to the society was important between Han

China and Classical Athens. Although it was how a citizen should act that showed the

differences between the two civilizations. In Classical Athens, a citizen was supposed to be

involved in government or there was no reason for them to live there (Doc 8). Overall, the way

of government was the main focus to Classical Athens and the people that governed it. So, it was

crucial that the citizens were involved with the way the government flowed. It was the makeup

of Classical Athens citizenship standards that made the government function. Additionally,

anyone who chose to become a citizen to Classical Athens knew that they would have to obey

the ways they were supposed to act (Doc 9). As a resident to Classical Athens it was agreed that

they would have to uphold and obey the law if they wanted any chance to become a citizen.

Thus, Classical Athens standards of a citizen was rooted from the ideology that everyone was to

obey the law. On the other hand, Han China relied more on the foundation of family on how a

citizen should behave (Doc 10). Unlike Classical Athens, a citizen of Han China was supposed to

put their family above the law. But by being good to their family, it proved that they were taking

part in the government (Doc 10). Unlike Classical Athens the equality between citizens was

stopped when it came to defending their families in Han China. By simply protecting their family

members they could be classified as being a citizen and taking a role in the government. For
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instance, in Han China a father would “cover up for their sons, and sons cover up for their

fathers” (Doc 10). The justice in Han China was different than it was in Classical Athens. Since a

citizen in Classical Athens, when presented a trial, would present justifiable evidence. Afterall,

Classical Athens was driven by law and that no citizen could act as they wanted to, their role was

to obey the law (Doc 10). While in Han China the only important thing in a trial was to defend

the honor of their family which was what a citizen was supposed to act. Unfortunately, if the

family member did commit a crime. So, the differences can be shown on how Classical Athens

morals for being a citizen was based on law and that no one was above it. But Han China was

about family and that by being loyal to family was morally good enough to be a citizen.

Hence, during the golden age Han China and Classical Athens were more different to

each other. This goes to regards on how the two were different in geographic land sizes which

affected population. Additionally, Han China’s and Classical Athens’s government was

structured around the people or the heavens. Which affected the role in which citizens were

supposed to act given it being obeying laws or supporting family. Although, the golden ages

between Han China and Classical Athens happened many years ago. By all means it is still

important to know such information so that people today can know what went right in history.

And to know the differences between two civilizations so some traits could be improved upon to

help the future. Much like how in modern times the United States has adopted the democracy

government and polished it to make it more successful.