Chapter 4 The Age of Empires

Egypt& Nubia  Middle Kingdom (2000 BCE – 1600 BCE)  Lost power due to invaders (Hyksos)  Hebrews migrated to Egypt, later enslaved  New Kingdom (1600 BCE – 1000 BCE)  Overthrew Hyksos and entered greatest period  Queen Hatshepsut – expanded trade  Thutmose (her stepson) – more warlike and expanded south into Nubia  Ramses II – period of peace, building

Egypt and Nubia cont.  Egypt gradually declines and Kushites (from Nubia) conquer Nile region  During this time Nubia heavily influenced by Egyptian law, religion, military, art  Cultural diffusion

India (Chapter 7 Sec.1)  321 Chandragupta founds Mauryan Empire  Large army, high taxes  Son Asoka takes over & brought Mauryan Empire to great heights  Promotes Buddhism, religious tolerance, roads, trade  Upon death (232BCE) empire and unity falls apart  United again under the Gupta Empire (Chandra Gupta – different guy)  Expanded empire through conquest; achievements in arts, literature, science

Assyrians  Northern Mesopotamia – highly advanced military; disciplined warriors  Metal & leather armor; iron weapons; ladders, tunnels  Capital city: Nineveh  Huge empire – Mesopotamia, Egypt  No mercy to defeated; killed, banished  Great builders; library  Conquered by Chaldeans; rebuilt civilization in Babylon; King Nebuchadnezzar  Fell to the Persians!

Persians  Strong military but tolerance and diplomacy (Iran)  Great region of trade  Cyrus the Great – rather than destruction, honored local customs, religions, etc.  Darius followed – expanded empire  Divided into provinces; governor (satrap) ruled  Royal Road through empire; excellent communication  Zoroastrianism – religion; one god, battle for good; judged by good deeds; declined after Islam developed

China  Zhou dynasty had lasted about 800 years!  Social order, harmony, respect for authority; had begun to decline  Confucius wanted to restore order  5 basic relationships (ruler/subject, father/son, husband/wife, older brother/younger brother, friend/friend)  Filial piety – respect of parents  Kindness and loyalty

China cont.  Laozi (Lao Tzu)– believed in harmony, natural order; humans failed to follow this  Daoism (Taoism) – followers of Laozi  Tao – “The Way”  Qin dynasty – autocracy (unlimited power)  Qin = “Chin” = China  Qin Shi Huangdi – first Chinese emperor  Legalism - highly efficient and powerful govt. is key to social order (facts, structure)  Great Wall – linked several to keep out invaders; many died in process

Chin Dynasty (Shi Huangdi)  Legalism  Standardized Chinese writing, currency, weights and measures  Multiplication table  Expanded empire, massive fortifications (Great Wall – beginning)  Trade, irrigation, roads, social advances but harsh rule  Cruel – banished or killed enemies  Burned books that didn’t agree with his ideas  Probably died of mercury poisoning while trying to find the “elixir of life”

Shi Huangdi Common written language Common currency One standard calendar Killed hundreds of scholars Standard weights and measures Built canals and roads Inflicted horrible punishments Burned books on philosophy, literature, history Caused the deaths of thousands forced to build the Great Wall

Han Dynasty  Turmoil after death of Shi Huangdi  Han Dynasty (by Liu Bang) – ruled 400 years  Liu established centralized government (like SHD)  Departed from SHD’s strict legalism; lowered taxes; reduced harsh punishments  Wudi held throne longer than any Han emperor  Highly structured govt.; bureaucracy; many civil service jobs – must have knowledge of Confucianism  Technology – paper (helped education); collared harness (could pull more); govt. run silk production – closely guarded secret