1. Conrad-Demarest Model of Empires How do the Persians fit into the model?
AP World History
Unit 1

2. Empire Models Questions to consider:
What is the Conrad-Demarest Model of Empire?
What are the limits of using models to understand history?

3. Pre-Conditions for Empire
State level government.
High agricultural potential.
Environmental diversity.
Several small states with no dominate power.
Mutual hostility between small states.
Adequate military resources.

4. Persian Imperial Example
4 empires ruled 558 BCE to 651CE.
Mesopotamian states ripe for conquest.
Environmental mosaic: mountains, valley plateaus, jungles, deserts, arable lands, bordered many seas.
Equestrian skills and horses.
Alfalfa fed to horses made them stronger.

5. Persian Imperial Government
Capital at Persepolis.
23 regional satrapies appointed by emperor.
Locals appointed to serve as satraps.
Audits by roving bands of government spies.
Military officers to keep regions honest.
Regulated taxes and standardized laws.
Built good roads for communication and control.
Courier service with horses, could travel one week from one end of the empire to the other.
Policy of toleration of local beliefs.

6. State Ideology Supports: Personal identification with the state.
Belief in the empire.
Military conquest to expand empire.
Militarism:
Glorification of the ideals of a professional military class.
Predominance of the armed forces in the administration or policy of the state.
A policy in which military preparedness is of primary importance to a state.

7. Persian Imperial Example
Continual expansion by conquest:
Egypt, Anatolia, Thrace, Macedonia, Indus River Valley.
Zoroastizism and Darius.
Warrior class most important.

8. Characteristics of an Empire
Building roads and transportation networks.
Trade increases.
Cosmopolitan cities, art, and education.
Bureaucracy, taxes, coinage, and imperial laws enforced.
Official language.
Law and justice.
Standards over conquered people.

9. Persian Imperial Example
Royal road and canals.
Largest empire of its time period, expanded from East Asia to Europe to Northern Africa.
Persepolis.
Persian language was the official language.
Equal treatment of the people they conquered.
Freeing the Jews.
Hated Greeks, but respected their knowledge.

10. Results of Empires Economic rewards. Stability and prosperity.
Population increase.

11. Persian Imperial Example
Governed 35 million subjects.
Royal roads, peace, standardized coins fostered increased trade.
Regular taxes from satraps replaced intermittent tributes.

12. Reasons for Downfall Failure of leadership. Overextension.
Failure to continue expansion undermines government support.
Rebellions.

13. Persian Imperial Example
Parthians rebelled against Seleucids.
Persian Wars vs. Greek city-states.
Alexander the Great.
Macedonia.
Rome in 280 CE.
Rise of Islam in 651 CE.