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Ancient Empires
An Introduction to Eight Imperial Civilizations of the
Ancient World
Overview
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The Evolution of Civilization
Anthropology and Archaeology in Historical Analysis
The Rise and Characteristics of Empires
Cities and Technologies
Timelines
The Evolution of Civilizations
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Definition: Civilization
* a culture that builds cities and has achievements in art,
literature, science, and
technology
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Civilizations don’t rise alone
* End product of evolution of culture within a geographic
area
Archaeology - Definition
* The study of human activity in the past, primarily through the
recovery and analysis of the material culture and
environmental data that they have left behind.
Anthropology - Definition
* The study of humans, past and present, that draws and builds
upon the knowledge from the social sciences and biological
sciences as well as the humanities and natural sciences.
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The Importance of Archaeology
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Art of History
* Written records:
• political, military, economic
* Bias toward rich & powerful
Science of Archaeology
* Adds accurate detail about daily life of ordinary people
* Changed modern view of history
Key to History
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History is a gift
* Recreated in each generation
* Human mind has not changed in 200,000 years
• Evolution of homo sapiens is cultural
Archaeology
* Takes time, money
* Started in Europe
• Heinrich Schliemann
– Wealthy German businessman
– Excavated Troy 1870’s
Archaeology and Anthropology
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Science of Anthropology
* Archaeology
* Cultural anthropology
* Linguistics
* Physical anthropology
Cultural history
* Archaeologist is anthropologist
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* Seeing society whole
• All social groups and functions
• more accurate, meaningful interpretation of ancient
cultures
Hunter-Gatherers
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Big game hunting
• Nomadic, migratory herds of land & sea mammals
• Focus on one or two species
First settlements
* River valleys on migration routes
* Extraction of unearned resources
• Energy from other biomes
• Larger families possible
* Archaic adaptation: scheduled collecting of seasonal
foods
The Agricultural Revolution
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Developed in semi-arid areas adjacent to river valleys
* Need to store collected cereals
Impact of agriculture
* Stored surplus food
• Geometric increase in population
* Dependence on nonfood resources
• Water, fuel, stone, metal, etc.
* Transportation & trade
• Moving scarce resources between settled villages
Urbanization, industrialization
* Overpopulation, overexploitation of resources, pollution
Phases of Cultural Development
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Hunting & gathering
Agriculture
* Domestic plants
* Domestic animals
Towns & Cities
* Population increase
* Urbanization
* Specialization
* Competition
Life in the Ancient World
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Populations small
* Local farms, villages
* Little change over time
Hard lives
* Unvaried foods
* No medical services
* Poor sanitation
* High infant mortality
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Simple joys
* Family and friends
* Games, songs, stories
* Faith
Cultural Growth
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Theory of Diffusion
* Culture and technologies originate with one culture and
are diffused by contact with other cultures.
Theory of Correspondence
* All humans have same mental & physical capabilities,
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thus invent similar culture and technology in similar
environments
Birthplace of Empires
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River valleys
* Life-giving
* Godlike
Human innovations
* Development of crop species
* Irrigation systems
• Mesopotamia
* Calendars
• Nile Valley flooding
The Rise of Cities
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Ecological richness of valley attracts people
Cities
* Centre of richness
* Expanded areas of control
* Walled for protection
• Repelled invaders
• Attracted immigrants
* Emblems of Empire
The Rise of Empires
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Rich & fertile valleys
* Examples: Nile, Indus, Huang Ho
Regional Cultures
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* Centred around cities
* Shared trade, culture
* Military dominance leads to empire
Imperial Cities
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Dense population
Urbanization processes
Cultural innovation
Driven by
* Commerce
* Cultural interaction
The Elements of Empire
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Elements
* Peoples
* Goods
* Ideas
Existence & dynamism of elements depend on
* Movement
* Exchange
City As Symbol of Wealth
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Struggle for control of cities
Richness: ability to produce surplus goods and services
* agriculture
* pottery, metalworking
* commerce
Supported
* nobility, administrative class, army
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Increased wealth, population by immigration
Civilization to Empire
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City
* Agriculture means larger towns
* Specialized buildings, occupations
City-State
* Metropolis and hinterland
• Interaction of towns and cities
State
* Equality of cities e.g. Italy in Roman Republic
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Empire
* Subject states e.g. Aztec Empire
Culture and Expansion
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The Stay-at-Homes
* China, Egypt, Maya
* Little knowledge of other empires beyond their
boundaries
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The Expansionists
* Rome, Greece
* Pursuit of trade or conquest
* Limited by
• Natural obstacles
• Opposing forces
The Polynesian Case
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Polynesian seafarers
* 3000 BC on
* Sailed and colonized Pacific
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• Northwest Coast
• Easter Island
* No empire, colonies isolated
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The Record Factor
* Key is permanent records
• Written language
• Maps
* Example: Greek knowledge of Mediterranean world
Timelines
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Framework for understanding
* Time sequence of development of culture
* Marked by dynasties, technological progress
* Rise-and-fall image
• Spengler’s view of history
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