1. The age of Empires
Chapter 5

2. The meaning of empire
Empire: the extension of political rule by one people over other, different people
Tasks of empire:
Communication and administration
Awareness of place of conquered peoples in empire, unified monetary system
Hegemony- promotion of benefits of empire that make it acceptable to subject peoples
Dominance- the exercise of sheer force by military power

3. Why do empires decline? Failure of leadership
Overextension of administration
Collapse of the economy
Doubt over ideology
Military defeat

4. Mesopotamia and the Akkadians
Sargon of Akkad (r BCE)
Akkadians from Arabia led by Sargon
Conquered widely, wrote in Akkadian, standardized weights and measures, ideology based on Sargon’s image
Lasted 100 years

5. Babylonians and Hittites
Babylonian Amorites invaded from south around BCE
Hammurabi- legal code, military leader
Empire lasted 250 years
Hittites from north (Indo-European)
War chariot
Ironworking
Dominant from BCE

7. Assyrians Present in region from 20th century BCE
Rise to dominance began 900 BCE
Ruled by terror and forced migration
Esarhaddon (r BCE) conquest of Egypt made Assyria greatest power of the time

8. Egyptians Egypt power based on unified state
Invaders- Semitic Hyksos (introduced bronze, horses and chariots)
Expelled c BCE
Egyptian power in the Middle East during New Kingdom extended to Euphrates River
Pharaohs gain power and wealth in New Kingdom
Resistance high to Egyptian rule
Military defeat caused Egypt to abandon empire outside of Nile Valley
Maintained control of Nubia to 1050 BCE
Assyrians, Persians, and Alexander the Great controlled Egypt in turn

9. Persian EMpire Persian expansion led to empire in Middle East
Cyrus II (r BCE)
Merciful towards defeated enemies
Used bureaucracies of conquered administration
Supported Babylonian gods
Allowed exiles to return home
Cambyses II (r BCE)
Did not practice restraint in conquest
Launched invasions in Carthage and Nubia; failed

10. Persian Empire Darius I (r. 522-486 BCE) Symbols of power
Local loyalty through army
Written Persian language
Legal codes
Road system for military
4 regional capitals
Symbols of power
Architecture
Reliefs reflect imperial power
Zoroastrianism
Moderate policies

12. Greek City States Greek history in 2 periods Minoans settled Crete
Hellenic (internal development) and Hellenistic (expansionist)
Minoans settled Crete
Mycenaeans dominated Crete after BCE
Power fell to Greek “dark ages” by 1200 BCE
Reemergence of Greek culture in 850 BCE

13. Greek Polis Small, locally organized Size restricted by geography
Built for defense
Poorest at lower levels
Agora (open space) on higher ground
Acropolis (temple) on highest ground

14. Athenian democracy Reforms of Solon (600-560 BCE)
All free men participate
Reforms of Cleisthenes ( BCE)
Rotated political units based on deme, not clan
Open meeting every 10 days
Council of 500 selected by lottery
Athens now a more open society
Intellect and learning valued highly
Citizenship restricted to native born males

15. War with Persia
Revolt of Greek colonists in Asia Minor prompted Persian attack on Athens
10,000 Greeks defeated 48,000 Persians at Marathon in 490 BCE
Greeks had hoplite soldiers in tight phalanxes
Xerxes I launched a counter-attack and defeated the Spartans at Thermopylae
Athenians defeated Persians at Salamis Channel
Greeks develop Delian League (controlled by Athens) to drive out the Persians
Persians overextended their empire

16. Daily Life Athenian golden age under Pericles Slavery Religion
“Modern history”
Philosophy
Socrates, Plato, Aristotle
Science
Drama
Slavery
Religion
No sacred books, individualistic
Many temples, many gods
Mystery religions (cults, rituals, societies)
Festivals

17. Limits of City-States Peloponnesian War Constant warfare follows
Between Sparta and Athens ( BCE
Athens
Built a mini-empire
Controlled the Delian League
Sparta
All citizens (men) equal
Oligarchy (five elected men)
Spartan women more rights
Militaristic
War ends in 404 BCE with Persian-funded Spartan victory
Constant warfare follows

18. Empire of Macedon Philip Alexander the Great
Consolidated Macedonian power
Wanted to unify Greece and liberate Greeks in Asia Minor from Persian control
United Greek states under Macedonian control
Extended empire
Assassinated
Alexander the Great
Created largest empire to this point
Defeated Persia
Conquests spread to North Africa and India
Did not last much after his death in 323 BCE

19. Legacy of Alexander the Great
Hellenistic Ecumene
Spread Greek language, culture and people across empire
Built roads and cities
Unified urban culture of diverse people and vast lands
Added Greek ideas to local administrations
Trade
Revival of monarchy
Benevolent Despotism