1. The Conrad Demarest Model
Using a representative model to teach comparative empires.

2. Background Geoffrey Conrad Arthur Demarest
Latin-Americanists inspired by the Inca and Aztec empires
Model Can be applied to all empires and used to compare and contrast empires or to trace changes and continuity over time.

3. The Model
Preconditions which MUST exist but do not necessarily lead to empire building.
Adequate resources
Environmental mosaic
Some form of government which coalesces power
Power vacuum
Large military potential

4. The Model, Cont
Many places, including the Greek Poleis met the pre-conditions mentioned, what causes an empire to “start?”
Ideology! Religious, philosophical, anything that will help coalesce the masses behind the idea of expansion.
Ideology must endorse and justify warfare and expansion.

5. It’s all about the $…
Ideology is great, but what does empirical expansion get you?
Wealth from plunder, from trade, control of new resources, and from coercive tribute.
Most often enjoyed by the wealthy, but also distributed to the masses. This “trickle-down” economic benefit serves to cement social hierarchies.

6. $ Con’t Expansion also allows you to increase population
More food and land available
Less disease initially as the population density goes down, and food availability goes up.
State-sponsored population increase.
More populated areas tend to be more powerful than less-populated ones.
Native population supported by outlying areas

7. Size leads to trouble
The bigger the empire, the more costly the expansion
Empires that stop expanding and do not change their ideology tend to begin collapsing
Collapse tends to begin at the edges and creep towards the center.
Empires are inherently unstable!

8. Homework
Complete the Conrad-Demarest Model for the Roman Empire and the Han Dynasty
Use Chapter 6 for Rome
P for Han