The Chinese philosophies of Legalism, Confucianism, and Taoism all emerged for the first time during the rule of the Eastern Zhou. This period of time also coincided with the Warring States Period (476 to 221 B.C.E.) and the Hundred Schools of Thought period.

The Byzantine Empire emerged from the Eastern Roman Empire after the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the fifth century. However, the Byzantines were fascinated with ancient Greek culture and viewed themselves as the inheritors and continuation of both the Roman Empire and the Hellenistic world. Much of Byzantine law, philosophy, science, and society was modeled on that of Ancient Greece.

The Han Feizi is the central text of legalism. It is a collection of essays written by Han Fei in the third century B.C.E. Most of the essays are concerned with government authority and the proper administration of a state.

Sparta is a prominent and noteworthy city-state in the history of Ancient Greece. Spartan society is primarily remembered for its emphasis on combat aptitude and its successful military campaigns. The Spartan army was instrumental in fending off Persian invasion during the Persian Wars. It is was also responsible for the destruction of Athens at the end of the Peloponnesian War.

Epicureanism is an ancient Greek system of philosophy that was first developed by Epicurus in the fourth century BCE. Epicureanism was centered around the pursuit of pleasure through modesty, knowledge, self-control, and study.

Stoicism is an ancient Greek philosophy that was founded in the third century BCE. It maintains that the highest virtue in life is the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom. For this reason it is often contrasted against Epicureanism (with its emphasis on the pursuit of pleasure), but this contrast is somewhat unfair and is based on a modern interpretation of Epicureanism as a debauched hedonistic philosophy.

Alexander the Great was raised in the wealthy Macedonian court of Philip II (his father). Philip II of Macedon was an extremely capable and ambitious ruler, he expanded the size and power of Macedonia and paved the way for the later conquests of Alexander the Great. He was also determined that his son Alexander should receive an exemplary education and so the famous philosopher and teacher Aristotle was summoned to the Macedonian court.

The Hundred Schools of Thought period of Chinese history occurred concurrently with the Warring States Period of Chinese history, from the fifth to the second century BCE. This was a time of great turbulence in China, but also of great innovation and philosophical development. The Chinese philosophies of legalism, Taoism, and Confucianism all arose in this time period. Buddhism, however, developed in India during the first millennium BCE.

The primary goal of the Chinese philosophical tradition known as legalism was to strengthen the power and authority of the central state and encourage obedience to the government. Legalism was highly effective at supporting the growth of the power of Qin Shi Huangdi in the immediate aftermath of the Warring States Period, but became unpopular due to its disregard for Chinese traditional values.

The Qin Dynasty rose to power during the Warring States Period of Chinese history. It became powerful as a result of a series of legalism reforms enacted in the fourth century BCE. But, the Qin’s strict adherence to legalism made them extremely unpopular once in power. All of these groups (with the obvious exception of advocates for legalism) might have been critical of the rule of Qin Shi Huangdi, but Confucian scholars definitely would have been. Confucianism and legalism were rival schools of thought and Confucian scholars would have been appalled by the Qin’s strict adherence to legalism.