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The age of Empires

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

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The age of Empires

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  1. The age of Empires Chapter 5

  2. 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

  3. Why do empires decline? Failure of leadership Overextension of administration Collapse of the economy Doubt over ideology Military defeat

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. 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

  13. 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

  14. 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

  15. 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

  16. 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

  17. 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

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