Question
“A great empire, like a great cake, is most easily diminished at the edges.”
—Benjamin Franklin, “Rules by Which a Great Empire May be Reduced to a Small One,” September 11, 1773
Which of these statements best analyzes how events that led to the fall of the Roman Empire and the Han Dynasty supported Franklin’s statement?(1 point)
Responses
Both were ruled by ineffective emperors who relied on corrupt advisors.
Both were ruled by ineffective emperors who relied on corrupt advisors.
Both were invaded by nomadic groups who first attacked regions farthest away from the seats of government.
Both were invaded by nomadic groups who first attacked regions farthest away from the seats of government.
Both collapsed as a result of power struggles within each imperial court.
Both collapsed as a result of power struggles within each imperial court.
Both were fragmented into smaller sections by their imperial rulers.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The statement that best analyzes how events that led to the fall of the Roman Empire and the Han Dynasty supported Franklin’s statement is:
**Both were invaded by nomadic groups who first attacked regions farthest away from the seats of government.**
This response aligns closely with Franklin's analogy of a great empire being diminished at the edges. In both the Roman Empire and the Han Dynasty, the outer regions were more vulnerable to invasions and attacks, leading to a gradual weakening of the entire structure of the empire starting from the periphery before reaching the center.
**Both were invaded by nomadic groups who first attacked regions farthest away from the seats of government.**
This response aligns closely with Franklin's analogy of a great empire being diminished at the edges. In both the Roman Empire and the Han Dynasty, the outer regions were more vulnerable to invasions and attacks, leading to a gradual weakening of the entire structure of the empire starting from the periphery before reaching the center.