Change is a major part of world history, and some of these many changes include the collapse of government. Whether it is a quick and sudden crumble or a slow and long process, a collapse in government can lead to significant changes in a country. One example of a collapse of government was when the classical society of the Han Dynasty in China came to an end. Economically it fell because there was a severe reduction in tax revenue, which cause the empire to crumble and this economic failure would lead to regional kingdoms in China. In Western Rome, diseases drastically cut the population and the Roman army could no longer protect its people from the nomadic groups that were trying to interfere. The fall of Western Rome was extremely detrimental, resulting in the establishment of the feudal system, which was a great step backwards. The conclusion of the classical period would definitely prove to have lasting effects on both empires.
The Han Dynasty in China fell mainly because the scholars were exempt from taxes, and all the peasants wanted to live on estates where they could avoid tax collectors. This resulted in a very big cut of cut revenue for the government. The government also became unable to limit the power of large private landowners, and the emperor lost his power due to corruption among his court officials. This would eventually lead to the fall of the empire and a rise in nomadic invasions. When the Tang Dynasty was finally established after the Han, they established many small regional kingdoms, and they turned to Buddhism and the Confucian civil service exam in order to establish a sense of normality. Nevertheless, it would be a very long time before China would recover from the fall of the Han.
Western Rome suffered the most intense collapse compared to the other three classical empires. The rich landlords refused to pay taxes and fought off the tax collectors with their private armies. The church could not be taxed, and the government could not afford to keep roads safe, leading to a decline in trade. The government also had problems enforcing the laws. The population dropped severely due to plagues and the nomadic groups exploited the weaknesses of the empire. The end of Classical Rome led to the beginning of the Middle Ages, which was a huge step backwards for Western Europe. This loyalty system resulted in a decentralized central government because Europe became littered with self-sufficient manors. The only unifying power during this time was the church. This was clearly a very large leap backwards for Western Rome.
The classical period for both Rome and China proved to be a time of great prosperity and production. The Han was when the civil service exam was established, and the civil service exam would continue to remain a huge part of Chinese society. The fall of the Han dynasty however, cause the government to split into regional kingdoms. Rome ended up being extremely prosperous with the Pax Romana, the Twelve Tables, and the establishment of many new roads. When Rome fell, they entered a long period of turmoil known as the Middle Ages. Both classical societies are perfect examples to show how the collapse of government will affect a nation.
