The age of Empires

Chapter 5

The meaning of empire

Empire: the extension of political rule by one people over other, different people

Tasks of empire: Communication and administration Awareness of place of conquered peoples in

empire, unified monetary system Hegemony- promotion of benefits of empire

that make it acceptable to subject peoples Dominance- the exercise of sheer force by

military power

Why do empires decline?

Failure of leadership

Overextension of administration

Collapse of the economy

Doubt over ideology

Military defeat

Mesopotamia and the Akkadians

Sargon of Akkad (r. 2334-2279 BCE) Akkadians from Arabia led by Sargon

Conquered widely, wrote in Akkadian, standardized weights and measures, ideology based on Sargon’s image

Lasted 100 years

Babylonians and Hittites

Babylonian Amorites invaded from south around 1900 BCE Hammurabi- legal code, military leader Empire lasted 250 years

Hittites from north (Indo-European) War chariot Ironworking Dominant from 1400-1200 BCE

Assyrians

Present in region from 20th century BCE Rise to dominance began 900 BCE

Ruled by terror and forced migration

Esarhaddon (r. 680-669 BCE) conquest of Egypt made Assyria greatest power of the time

Egyptians

Egypt power based on unified state Invaders- Semitic Hyksos (introduced bronze, horses and

chariots) Expelled c. 1550 BCE

Egyptian power in the Middle East during New Kingdom extended to Euphrates River

Pharaohs gain power and wealth in New Kingdom

Resistance high to Egyptian rule Military defeat caused Egypt to abandon empire outside of

Nile Valley Maintained control of Nubia to 1050 BCE Assyrians, Persians, and Alexander the Great controlled

Egypt in turn

Persian EMpire

Persian expansion led to empire in Middle East Cyrus II (r. 558-529 BCE)

Merciful towards defeated enemies Used bureaucracies of conquered administration Supported Babylonian gods Allowed exiles to return home

Cambyses II (r. 529-522 BCE) Did not practice restraint in conquest Launched invasions in Carthage and Nubia; failed

Persian Empire

Darius I (r. 522-486 BCE) Local loyalty through army Written Persian language Legal codes Road system for military 4 regional capitals

Symbols of power Architecture Reliefs reflect imperial power Zoroastrianism Moderate policies

Greek City States

Greek history in 2 periods Hellenic (internal

development) and Hellenistic (expansionist)

Minoans settled Crete

Mycenaeans dominated Crete after 1450 BCE Power fell to Greek “dark

ages” by 1200 BCE

Reemergence of Greek culture in 850 BCE

Greek Polis

Small, locally organized

Size restricted by geography

Built for defense Poorest at lower levels Agora (open space) on

higher ground Acropolis (temple) on

highest ground

Athenian democracy

Reforms of Solon (600-560 BCE) All free men participate

Reforms of Cleisthenes (560-508 BCE) Rotated political units based on deme, not clan Open meeting every 10 days Council of 500 selected by lottery

Athens now a more open society Intellect and learning valued highly Citizenship restricted to native born males

War with Persia

Revolt of Greek colonists in Asia Minor prompted Persian attack on Athens 10,000 Greeks defeated 48,000 Persians at

Marathon in 490 BCE Greeks had hoplite soldiers in tight phalanxes

Xerxes I launched a counter-attack and defeated the Spartans at Thermopylae

Athenians defeated Persians at Salamis Channel

Greeks develop Delian League (controlled by Athens) to drive out the Persians Persians overextended their empire

Daily Life

Athenian golden age under Pericles “Modern history” Philosophy

Socrates, Plato, Aristotle Science Drama

Slavery

Religion No sacred books, individualistic Many temples, many gods Mystery religions (cults, rituals, societies) Festivals

Limits of City-States

Peloponnesian War Between Sparta and Athens (432-404 BCE

Athens Built a mini-empire Controlled the Delian League

Sparta All citizens (men) equal Oligarchy (five elected men) Spartan women more rights Militaristic

War ends in 404 BCE with Persian-funded Spartan victory

Constant warfare follows

Empire of Macedon

Philip Consolidated Macedonian power

Wanted to unify Greece and liberate Greeks in Asia Minor from Persian control

United Greek states under Macedonian control Extended empire

Assassinated

Alexander the Great Created largest empire to this point

Defeated Persia Conquests spread to North Africa and India

Did not last much after his death in 323 BCE

Legacy of Alexander the Great

Hellenistic Ecumene Spread Greek language, culture and people

across empire Built roads and cities Unified urban culture of diverse people and

vast lands Added Greek ideas to local administrations Trade

Revival of monarchy

Benevolent Despotism