1. Ancient Empires

2. Mesopotamia Empires (2.4)
Main Ideas:
The Hittites and Egyptians were eventually overshadowed by the rise of the Assyrian and Persian Empires.
The Persian Empire brought many years of peace to Southwest Asia, increasing trade and the general well being of its people.

3. Assyrian Empire
The Assyrians were a Semitic-speaking people who exploited the use of iron weapons to establish an empire by 700 BC
Within less than 100 years internal strife and resentment of Assyrian rule began to tear the Assyrian Empire apart.
The empire fell to a coalition of Chaldeans and Medes and was divided between those two powers.

4. Key Points
The Assyrian Empire was ruled by kings whose power was seen as absolute.
Well organized empire.
Created a well established postal service throughout the empire.
The system was so effective that a governor anywhere in the empire could send a questions and receive an answer from the king within a week.
Very militaristic…very organized, disciplined, and were good at conquering others.
The Assyrians used terror in warfare
Used iron weapons
They had a force of infantrymen at the core of the military, joined by cavalrymen and horse-drawn war chariots that were used as platforms for shooting arrows.

5. Persian Empire
The Persians were an Indo-European people who lived in what is today southwestern Iran.
The Persians were organized by groups until one family managed to unify them.
One of the family’s members, Cyrus, created a powerful Persian state that stretched from Asia Minor to western India.

6. Key Rulers Cyrus “the Great” Darius Ruled from 559 to 530 B.C.
He demonstrated much wisdom and compassion in the conquest and organization of his empire.
Respected other civilizations
Darius
Expanded the Persian Empire into India
He divided up the empire into 20 provinces and each province was ruled by a governor, or satrap.
They collected taxes, provided justice and security, and recruited soldiers for the royal army.

7. Key Points Created a Royal Road that connected the empire.
By the time of Darius, the Persian kings, had created a standing army of professional soliders. This army was composed of people from all over the empire. At its core was a cavalry force of ten thousand and an elite infantry force of ten thousand. These groups were called the Immortals because of the huge numbers.
The empire fell because of greed over the throne and wealth. Also weakened by the conquests of Alexander the Great.

9. India Empires (3.2) Main Ideas:
The Mauyran dynasty flourished under Asoka.
Asoka was a kind ruler
Trade prospered under him
Used Buddhist ideals to guide his rule
Empire will decline after his death
The Kushan kingdom prospered.
The Silk Road passed though the Kushan kingdom
The Gupta Empire left a lasting legacy through literature, architecture, and science.

10. Key Religions Mentioned Thus Far
Judaism…first monotheistic religion
Emerged in Southwest Asia
Hinduism…came to India by the Aryans
Caste System
Karma, Dharma
Reincarnation
Yoga
Polytheistic
Vedas
Buddhism…was developed in Northern India by Siddhartha Gautama.
Four Noble Truths
Eight-Fold Path
Nirvana
Philosophies
Confucianism
Legalism
Daoism

11. Key Point!!!!
The religions and philosophies within each region helped shape the regions culture, art, and politics.