This volume investigates how the concept of 'empire' was intellectually and symbolically constructed within the ancient civilizations of China and Rome. Edited by Achim Mittag, the work assembles a multidisciplinary team of Sinologists and Classicists to analyze how these two distinct political entities defined their imperial identities. By examining historiography alongside political thought, the authors argue that the emergence of the imperial order was a foundational development that shaped the long-term trajectory of both Mediterranean and East Asian governance.

Scholars in the field of comparative antiquity recognize this volume as a significant contribution to the study of cross-cultural political thought. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which is intended for researchers and students of ancient history and political theory.