Classical+Civilizations+&+Late+Classical+Period+(8)


 * What is an empire?**
 * a large state that exerts coercive power on a large area with multiple ethnic groups
 * often associated with oppression
 * common problem: should they enforce their culture on the surrounding cultures?
 * all empires used military might for expansion
 * all empires have eventually collapsed
 * some empires have created periods of peace even though they were built on conquest
 * Persian Empire**
 * largest empire in 500 BCE
 * population at peak: 35 million people
 * “cult of kingship”—kings considered absolute rulers, worshipped by people
 * king claimed that they had support of Ahura Mazda (Zoroastrian god)
 * when king died: sacred fires were lit, people were expected to shave their hair
 * governors (satraps) and spies (“eyes and ears” of the emperor) used to keep order and suppress dissent
 * allowed people to keep their local customs—made people willing to be controlled by the Persians
 * adapted foreign customs
 * extensive public works projects: standardized currency, roads, elaborate palaces
 * caravans of merchants/mail carriers—US Postal Service modeled on these
 * “royal road” that stretched 1,700 miles
 * Famous monarchs
 * Cyrus (557-530 BCE)
 * Darius (522-486 BCE)
 * Greece (and Greek/Persian history)**
 * Greece (750 BCE)
 * population: 2-3 million people
 * composed of small city-states (city and the farmland around it)
 * each city-state called a “polis”
 * city states competed with each other but had a common culture
 * political structure varied from city to city
 * Olympics (held in Olympia) are one example of common cultural identity
 * steps to Greek democracy
 * monarchy—but monarchy became dependent upon rich
 * led to aristocracy: rich and influential people in control
 * common people got angry; revolt led by populist tyrant
 * people would become unhappy with tyrant—led to democracy
 * important Greek leaders
 * Draco: instituted written laws
 * Solon: instituted trial by jury
 * traded all throughout Agean sea
 * idea of citizenship was very important
 * lower classes gained citizenship in some cities
 * direct democracy—even poor can hold office
 * citizens were all free adult males
 * civic virtue considered important
 * democratic principles: voting, debating, trial by jury
 * Greeks made significant advances in math, science, and astronomy
 * Parthenon: temple to Athena, patron goddess of Athens
 * How is the Greek political system different from the Persian one?
 * Greek history
 * Greco-Persian war: Greeks revolt against Persian control of Anatolia (Turkey)
 * Persians attack Greeks; Greeks defend themselves
 * had little effect on Persians, but was huge victory on Greeks
 * Greeks think they won because they were fighting for freedom
 * beginning East/West divide
 * West began to represent freedom and democracy; East began to represent despotism
 * Golden Age for Greece: Athens begins to dominate Greek affairs
 * other city-states resent Athenian control—leads to Peloponnesian war
 * weakens Greece, allows it to be conquered by Macedonians
 * unifies but limits independence of city-states
 * Alexander the Great (Macedonia)**
 * Alexander: son of Philip II of Macedonia
 * becomes king when Phillip II is assassinated
 * unified Greeks and launched campaign against Persian Empire—conquered Persian lands from Turkey all the way down to Egypt
 * Persian Empire no longer world power
 * Alexander is greeted in Egypt as savior
 * Built Greek-style city of Alexandria in Egypt (and more in other places)
 * cultural significance
 * spread Greek culture all throughout the areas he conquered
 * built library at Alexandria
 * Hellenistic: mix of Greek and Asian culture
 * however: still some racism and Greek superiority present in some areas, such as in Egypt
 * two sets of laws: one for Greeks and one for Egyptians
 * India**
 * political organization of India
 * began as a group of decentralized cities
 * trade guilds very powerful
 * cotton textile industry very important
 * what promoted commonality among Indian peoples?
 * Hinduism/caste system
 * cultural and racial diversity
 * foreign invaders
 * cultural distinctions
 * Hinduism caste system
 * advances in mathematics, sciences, astronomy
 * educational advances
 * lavish temples, public buildings, religious rituals
 * Mauryan Empire (326-184 BCE)
 * similar structure to Persian/Chinese Empires but not as long-lasting
 * state-owned industries
 * aggressive military to conquer others
 * Ashoka: well-known Persian Empires
 * began as ruthless ruler
 * during battle realized how cruel he had become
 * converted to Buddhism; became altruistic and vegetarian
 * put statues and philosophical inscriptions all throughout the Empire
 * Gupta Empire (320-550)
 * short-lived empire; did not control as much territory as Mauryan Empire

Roman Empire (753 B.C.E. - 476 B.C.E.):

I. Formation: a. Small city-state on western side of Italy during the 8th Century b. According to legend, kidnapped women to reproduce c. 509 B.C.E. patricians (aristocrats) overthrew king

II. Early Politics: a. Executive branch: two consuls b. Senate: consisted of patricians c. Written code of law protected plebeians (lower class) d. Tribune: allowed veto of unfavorable legislation e. “The Way of the Ancestors”: rule of law, rights of citizens, absence of pretension, upright moral behavior and keeping one’s word

III. Empire Building: a. Began in the 490s B.C.E. and lasted over 500 years b. 264-146 B.C.E.: Punic Wars i. Fought against Carthage (Northern Africa) ii. 1st War: invades Carthage (Hannibal allegedly a child at the time) iii. 2nd War: Hannibal leads large force to Italian Peninsula and destroys countryside, Sipio leads navy to Carthage, Hannibal defeated iv. 3rd War: Rome destroys Carthage out of spite, citizens killed or sold into slavery c. Expanded into Southern and Western Europe (i.e. Spain, France and Britain) d. Maximum territory in 2nd Century C.E. e. Without precedence f. Expansion seen as defensive strategy g. Allure of riches and wealth provided motivation h. Enriched generals who formed their own armies (Marius, Sulla, Pompey, Julius Caesar)

IV. Julius Caesar a. Powerful general who conquered Gaul b. Attacks Senatorial army in Rome c. Dictator in all but name (Senate largely powerless) d. Assassinated by Senators e. Nephew Augustus Caesar (Octavian) takes control i. Clashes with Marc Antony and Cleopatra in Egypt ii. First Roman “Emperor” iii. Pax Romana: Roman peace, 200 years

V. Culture a. Greek culture assimilated into Roman culture b. Gender roles blurred over time

Qin and Han Dynasties of China (221 B.C.E. - 220 C.E.)

I. Previous Dynasties: a. 2200 B.C.E. onwards: Xia, Shang and Zhou b. 500 B.C.E.: Warring States Period c. Seven competing kingdoms

II. Qin Dynasty a. Ruled by Shihuangdi (“First Emperor”) (221-210 B.C.E.): defeated other kingdoms for power b. Legalism: clear rules and totalitarian state c. Based on previous precedents that allowed for a more compressed empire building effort d. Scholars in opposition to his policies were executed and their books burned e. Aristocrats moved to the capital f. Creation of the Great Wall to keep out “barbarians” and terracotta army for Shihuangdi’s tomb g. Qin Dynasty collapses in 206 B.C.E. h. Succeeded by Han Dynasty (206 B.C.E.-220 C.E.) which established political patterns that persisted into the 20th Century

III. Cultural Ideologies a. Men held higher positions in society b. Legalism c. Daoism d. Confucianism


 * Rome vs. Chinese Empire**

-both Rome and china wanted to encompass the whole world -public works such as roads, canals, and bridges were designed to make conquest and military dominance easier

-both Rome and China used mythic and religious reasons to support their rule -China-emperors were viewed as descendents of the gods -China-a bad turn of events, such as floods or uprisings, were signs that the emperor should not be in power -both empires conformed to primarily one religion -Rome-Christianity was slow to start, but quickly spread to take over the empire -China-Buddhism was introduced through trade with India

-empires grew in different ways -Rome started as a single city-state – not everybody was a Roman-all people could eventually become Roman citizens -China was the unification of provinces-everybody was Chinese-Chinese empire also featured assimilation

-Rome-glorification of Greek culture -no equivalent in China-Chinese culture was the culture to which others conformed

-multitude of languages in Rome -most Chinese spoke and wrote in Chinese

-both established centralized governments -Chinese bureaucracy-started an academy to produce political officers -Rome relied on regional leaders and the military