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.