LE3 .A278 2021

2021

Hewitt, Sonia
Sedgwick, James

Acadia University

Bachelor of Arts

Honours

Classics

History & Classics

There is evidence to prove the interconnection between the Western Roman worlds and the Eastern Qin Dynasty of the Chinese worlds two thousand years ago. This thesis aims to compare Augustus, the first emperor of the Roman Empire with Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of imperial China. Obviously, they share similar characteristics of being extraordinary military victors and political leaders and being the icon of people for thousands of years. Conversely, due to the fundamental difference in cultural background and human nature, the fact that their different perceptions of religion and the different legalism of their own empire (dynasty) caused different results for both emperors. Analyzing the primary resources Res Gestae Divi Augusti and Shi Ji (Records of the Grand Historian) provides an opportunity to compare these two great emperors’ lives. Bringing together the evidence from different civilizations has brought cultural integration and proved the two emperors with universal characteristics. The goal of this thesis is to examine both emperors together, through their achievements and influences to have a better understanding of these two extraordinary emperors.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:3570