The Development of States and Empires (2.2)

Period 2: 600 B.C.E. to 600 C.E.

The Persian Empire

Indo-European people in present-day Iran Drew upon Babylonians and Assyrians King ruled by the will of Ahura Mazda

(Zoroastrianism) 23 Persian governors (satraps) with

lower-level officials drawn from local authorities

General policy of tolerance for minorities empire’s many non-Persian cultures

Infrastructure: standardized coinage, predictable taxes, canal linking Nile and Red Sea, roads

Elaborate imperial centers (Susa, Persepolis) with monuments and palaces

Persian Empire Expansion

The Greeks

Small, competing city-states Geography contributed to

political independence, but common language and religion

Athenians had direct democracy

Greco-Persian Wars: Greek settlements on the Anatolian seacoast came under Persian control rebellion Greek victory (attributed to freedoms)

Golden Age Peloponnesian Wars: Athens

defeated by Peloponnesian League and Persia decline

Greek Colonization

Alexander’s Hellenistic Empire 338 B.C.: Macedonian takeover of Greece

by Phillip II Son Alexander created a Greek empire

from Egypt to India Defeated Persian Empire Died in 323 B.C.E. empire was divided into

three parts, ruled by Macedonian generals. Key significance: spread Hellenistic culture

throughout Asia and beyond

Roman Republic and Empire (8th century BCE to 5th/15th century CE)

8th century B.C.E.: originally ruled by Etruscan kings

509 B.C.E.: Roman aristocrats overthrew monarchy and established a republic 2 Consuls advised by patrician Senate Law – Twelve Tables

264- 146 B.C.E.: Punic Wars with Carthage

Rome becomes empire with Octavian Caesar (Augustus)

Pax Romana: From 27 B.C. to 180, Roman Empire provided peace and prosperity for the Mediterranean world.

Expansion due to strong military Conquered people given some

self-rule; many granted citizenship

Qin Dynasty (221 to 202 B.C.E.)

Qin Shihuangdi (“First Emperor”) defeated other states

Expanded into parts of Vietnam and Korea

Used Legalism as governing philosophy: punished aristocrats

Beginnings of Great Wall

Standardized weights, coinage, written language

Encouraged silk manufacturing

New roads

Han (202 B.C.E. to 220 C.E.)

Less harsh; Confucianism replaces Legalism as governing philosophy

141- 87 B.C.E.: Emperor Wudi establishes a Confucian Academy for training imperial bureaucrats: beginning of Chinese civil service system

Trade along Silk Roads increased

Government oversaw iron production, built canals and irrigation systems

Paper manufactured for first time

Mauryan (326-184 B.C.E.)

Founded by Chandragupta Expanded under grandson

Ashoka (268-232 B.C.E.) Converted to Buddhism

spread Encouraged trade and

constructed roads

Gupta (320-550 C.E.)

Less centralized rule Peace and prosperity of

the Guptas enabled pursuit of science and art

Marked by inventions and discoveries zero, decimal system,

“Arabic numerals” Extensive trade with

Indochina, Sri Lanka, Burma

The Maya

Classical period from 250 to 900 CE

Cultural achievements concept of zero complex mathematical

calculations astronomy (predict eclipses) art, writing, pyramids, plazas,

temples Politics: no unified empire,

city-states ruled by divine rulers

Decline was sudden and mysterious

Teotihuacan

Located in Valley of Mexico

Built c. 150 B.C.E. 200,000 people at

peak Street of the Dead:

grand homes of elites Temple of

Feathered Serpent: remains of 200 sacrificial victims found

mysteriously collapsed in 650 C.E., 1000 years later Aztecs dub it “city of the gods”

New Techniques– Rome, China, and Persia Administrative institutions

Centralized governments Elaborate legal systems and bureaucracies

Economic: Promotion of trade and economic integration building and maintaining roads Issuing currencies

Military Techniques: Diplomacy, developing supply lines, building

fortifications, defensive walls, and roads Drawing new groups of military officers and

soldiers from the local populations or conquered people

Cities

Cities served as centers of trade, public performance of religious rituals, and political administration for states and empires. Persepolis (Persian Empire/Middle East) Chang’an (Chinese Dynasties/East Asia) Pataliputra (Indian Empires/Indian subcontinent) Athens (Athenian Empire/Eastern Europe) Carthage (Carthaginian Empire/North Africa) Rome (Roman Empire/Western Europe) Alexandria (Macedonian Empire/Middle East) Constantinople (Roman Empire/Eastern Europe+Asia

Minor) Teotihuacan (Mayan Empire/Latin America)

PERSEPOLIS

Persepolis (Persia)

Why did they D.I.E.?

Roman, Han, and Gupta empires all declined and collapsed

1. Depopulation: declining urban populations generated social tensions and economic difficulties by

concentrating too much wealth in the hands of elites. 2. Invasions:

Xiongnu invaded Han China White Huns invaded Gupta Germanic tribes invaded Romans

3. Environmental Excessive mobilization of resources caused environmental

damage Deforestation, Desertification, Soil erosion, Silted rivers

Effects and legacy of decline Decline of urban life Contracting population Diminishing international trade Insecurity for ordinary people China v. Rome

While China was able to reassemble under the Sui, Tang, and Song Dynasties, Western Europe never again experienced a centralized, imperial authority.

Instead, it fragmented into kingdoms, city-states, and ultimately nation-states.

Urban decline most severe in Western Europe

Essential Vocabulary

1. infrastructure 2. monumental

architecture 3. bureaucracy 4. centralized

government 5. Pax Romana 6. Greco-Persian Wars 7. Peloponnesian Wars 8. Twelve Tables 9. patricians/

plebeians 10. Augustus Caesar

11. Qin Shihuangdi 12. Han Wudi 13. Arabic

numerals 14. Ashoka 15. Teotihuacan

Change and Continuity

How did classical empires (Roman, Han) differ from earlier empires (Egyptian, Babylonian)? Change?

How were they similar? Continuity?

Classical States and Empires

The number and size of key states and empires grew dramatically by imposing political unity on areas where previously there had been competing states. Required examples of key states and empires Southwest Asia: Persian Empires Mediterranean region: Phoenicia & colonies, Greek city-

states and colonies, and Hellenistic and Roman Empire East Asia: Qin and Han Empire South Asia: Maurya and Gupta Empires Mesoamerica: Teotihuacan, Maya city-states Andean South America: Moche

Your Turn

Write a thesis answering the question: Analyze similarities and differences

between the imperial administration of the Han Dynasty and the Roman Empire.

Sample Thesis

While both the Roman and Han Empires used well-organized bureaucracies and infrastructure to administer their empires, they differed in the philosophies used to justify their rule.