Ancient Empires

expansion, trade, art

PERSEPOLISAncient Iran

Persian ArchitectureSimilar to Roman architecture, Persian architectural style includes many columns, but also consists of Persia-specific capitals and a sense of taller, more delicate buildings

Column CapitalsGriffin and Bull

Apadana Palace Ruins5th Century BCE, The hall of the kings, Destroyed by Alexander the Great

Ruins of Palace at CtesiphonImperial capital of the second Persian Empire

Visual ArtAlso containing Roman influence, persian art is preserved in reliefs, statues, and sculpture

Persian ReliefsCarved into both palaces and cliffs, some look more Romanesque, and some more Mesopotamian

RhytonDrinking vessels

ALEXANDRIAEastern trade meets Western ideal

Pharos of AlexandriaArchetype for all lighthouses since

Temple of SerapisPart of the Library at Alexandria

BUDDHIST ARTEmperial China Respects Buddha, Fights for Emperor

BuddhaMural

BuddhaStatue

Terracotta ArmyChinese monument built for the first Emperor

Terracotta mind trickNew York, NY

TEOTIHUACANFirst American Metropolis

The Pyramid of the SunThe largest pyramid in Teotihuacan

Mural of Mythical creaturesThe Palace of Jaguars, Teotihuacan

Relief SculptureThe pyramid of Quetzlcoatl

QuetzlcoatlAztec God from earlier Mesoamerica

THE ROMAN EMPIREThe beginnings of Western civilization

Summary of Roman Europe

Roman Republicca. 500 BC-0

(formative age of Roman civilization)

Early Republic (ca. 500-250 BC):

Roman territory expands slowly across Italy

Late Republic (ca. 250-27 BC):Roman territory expands

rapidly across Mediterranean lands

Roman Empireca. 0-500

(great age of Roman civilization)

Pax Romana (ca. 27 BC-180 AD):

flourishing of the Roman Empire

Late Empire (ca. 180-500):gradual decline of the Roman

Empire

The Roman Empire was at its heyday during Pax Romana. Augustus was the founder of this era and often seen as the greatest Roman emperor. Other names to know are Ceasar and Constantine.

Recognizable Art/ArchitectureThe Colosseum

Recognizable Art/ArchitectureThe Pantheon – Emulated by modern American structures (such as Jefferson’s Pantheon)

Recognizable Art/ArchitectureTrajan’s Column with relief sculpture detail

Augustus and Constantine BustsMade in the popular sculpted marble statue form