Ancient China was less equal than the Roman Empire. Here's why.

Ancient China was less equal than the Roman Empire. Here's why.

For about 250 years at the beginning of our era, two ancient superpowers coexisted at opposite ends of the vast Eurasian land mass. The Roman Empire and China’s Han Dynasty were too far apart to be in direct contact, but they did know of each other. The Romans called China Seres, the mysterious land where silk came from. The Chinese had vague notions of Daqin, a mighty empire way out west. Alien culture, familiar system If a traveler from either…