After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Europe splintered into a patchwork of kingdoms that would never reunite under a single empire. Meanwhile, China, after periods of fragmentation, repeatedly came back together under unified dynasties. Why did these two ancient giants follow such different historical paths? In this episode, we explore the cultural, geographical, political, and economic factors that shaped the destinies of Rome and China. Discover how history, chance, and ideology played a role in one empire’s enduring unity — and the other’s lasting division.