llingjie

As we know, 2000 years b4 China has more than 7 countries. At that time, in south and north of china was still Savage state, The local native of south and north China b4 2000 years was many nations, their were still not Chinese.


At the same age, Rome had something similar situation.


But why?


At last, the nations in china unlited to one country But Rome split into many countries.

cachibatches

For one thing, it depends on how you look at it. China is currently trying to claim all kinds of nations that have historically been part of China, but at one time or another split off.

The fact that a lot of historic China is ethnically similar and shares a language would be one reason for the greater overall unity.

llingjie

In China, different province has different languages, if you was born and growed in beijing, you will never understand the Shanghai local language.

It was chinese characters made diffrent languages can communion.

You may not understand another province people's talking but you can understand what they are writing.

Unfortunatly, Latin text was not become popular written language in Europe.

Soulstrider

But they indeed split several times into several independent states. I am only casually familiar with the history of China so what I can say can be completely wrong, but two cents is that they has what could be called sucessfull Holy Roman Empires, a successor state which was strong enough to reconquer the old territories and recentralize them.

Lucius

Why did China unite but the Roman Empire split?

The geography of China is united into one sub-continent. The geography of the Roman Empire is split up into many islands and pennisulas on 3 continents.

If that is too simple, then I am out of ideas.

llingjie

use force to reconquer was easy, but united culture in diffrent provinces was much difficulty. Conquer may only cost 100 years, but Cultural identity may cost 1000 years in the ancient time.

Chinese did it so they can united as one nation, but rome did not.

llingjie

even Europe was not united as one in the history.

The unite is mean Europe people think theirself as one nation.

But chinese did it, 1.2 billion people think theirself as one nation--Han.(In fact , in biologically, they are not)

kauchenvinci-0

For what I know of these 2 regions , I could think of an important point [ this might be wrong though as I possess a little knowledge on both]
China , for most of its history did not develop into a region of multiple power centers unlike Europe . And after the fall of Roman empire , most of the European continent got split into numerous parts and which evolved into separate cultural spheres acquiring their own identity and this ever increased with time .
But in China , it was mostly a powerful dynasty which held sway over all other minor ones aand asserted its strength , during most of its history . And in Europe , the power revolved around multiple centers which were at almost an equal footing and could not always assert their power .
So the people of China throughout most of the territory started feeling the uniqueness in their nationality whereas the Europeans recognized themselves more on the lines of their regions and their lord.
Please let me know If I am wrong anywhere [ and the probability for it is very high ]

Lucius

Right. The Roman Empire was the closest thing to unity Europe ever had. Europe was always many active rivals emulating each others' successes and avoiding each others mistakes.

When the Yongle Emperor in 1433 burned the Chinese fleet, he took China out of world history until the British and French showed up with a plan to sell some opium to everyone in China.

In Europe, if a king had decided that his country must return to the good old days, his neighbors all would have had the same thought, "Perfect! I'll take over the future!" And they did, so to speak.

WeisSaul

If I recall correctly China has never played a game of musical chairs with the throne.

Rome was very difficult to maintain. it was huge, had several places it could be attacked from, and was a pain in the ass to wholly defend.

The only way you can really invade China by land in through Manchuria, hence why the only great walls built were on the north.

Even the Roman Emperors understood the difficulty in holding the empire together, which is why one emperor decided to split it up.

However, the Roman Empire lasted a pretty long time. It only collapsed in 1453, having began as a small city-state in 753 BC.