The age of Empires Chapter 5

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

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

Mesopotamia and the Akkadians Sargon of Akkad (r. 2334-2279 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

Babylonians and Hittites Babylonian Amorites invaded from south around 1900 BCE Hammurabi- legal code, military leader Empire lasted 250 years Hittites from north (Indo-European) War chariot Ironworking Dominant from 1400-1200 BCE

Assyrians Present in region from 20th century BCE Rise to dominance began 900 BCE Ruled by terror and forced migration Esarhaddon (r. 680-669 BCE) conquest of Egypt made Assyria greatest power of the time

Egyptians Egypt power based on unified state Invaders- Semitic Hyksos (introduced bronze, horses and chariots) Expelled c. 1550 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

Persian EMpire Persian expansion led to empire in Middle East Cyrus II (r. 558-529 BCE) Merciful towards defeated enemies Used bureaucracies of conquered administration Supported Babylonian gods Allowed exiles to return home Cambyses II (r. 529-522 BCE) Did not practice restraint in conquest Launched invasions in Carthage and Nubia; failed

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

Greek City States Greek history in 2 periods Minoans settled Crete Hellenic (internal development) and Hellenistic (expansionist) Minoans settled Crete Mycenaeans dominated Crete after 1450 BCE Power fell to Greek “dark ages” by 1200 BCE Reemergence of Greek culture in 850 BCE

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

Athenian democracy Reforms of Solon (600-560 BCE) All free men participate Reforms of Cleisthenes (560-508 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

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

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

Limits of City-States Peloponnesian War Constant warfare follows Between Sparta and Athens (432-404 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

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

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