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Lesson #7: Power Empires The Hellenistic World The Hellenistic world began under the leadership of Alexander the Great, who conquered an empire stretching from the Greek mainland all the way to the Indus River Valley. Hellenistic society was a blending of Greek, Egyptian, Persian, and many other cultures that gave rise to advancements in math, science, art, and literature. The influence of power in this case is one of culture. Alexander died young, and his empire was divided between his strongest generals. Yet, the cultural and intellectual achievements live on in both the Roman Empire and Byzantine Empire, as well as cultures spread from the Mediterranean to the Indus River Valley. Hellenistic World The Roman Empire The Roman Republic was founded in 509 BCE. The government was run by elected officials called Senators, who were chosen from the upper class called Patricians. The lower class, Plebeians, made up the majority of the population and were generally farmers, artisans, and merchants. By 270 BCE, Rome controlled all of Italy. They also soon conquered Carthage, Macedonia, Greece, and parts of Asia Minor. This expansion led to civil war and the end of the Republic when Julius Caesar took power in 48 BCE. After his murder, Caesar's grandnephew, Augustus, became Emperor, turning Rome into an Empire. Rome extended it power throughout the Mediterranean world for about the next 500 years. Roman territories adopted Roman culture, the Latin language and alphabet, and supported Rome through taxes and trade. Roman Empire The Islamic Empire Islam began in the Arabian Peninsula in the early 7th century CE. It quickly spread throughout the Middle East before moving across North Africa, and into Spain and Sicily. By the 13th century, Islam had spread across India and Southeast Asia. The reasons for the success of Islam, and the expansion of its empire, can be attributed to the strength of the Arab armies, the use of a common language, and fair treatment of conquered peoples. Arab armies were able to quickly conquer territory through the use of advanced tactics and the employment of horse and camel cavalry. Islamic rulers were very tolerant of conquered peoples, and welcomed conversion to the Islamic faith. All Muslims must learn Arabic, so they can read the Quran, the Islamic holy book. This common language helped to unite many different ethnic groups within the Islamic empire. It also made possible the easy exchange of knowledge and ideas. This resulted in a golden age under the Abbassid Dynasty, which ruled from the mid 8th century until the mid 13th century. Under the Abbassids, Islamic culture became a blending of Arab, Persian, Egyptian, and European traditions. Islam did not lose power in Spain until the end of the 15th century during the Reconquista. Throughout the Middle East and Northern Africa, while the Islamic Empire of the Abbassid's disappeared, the faith of Islam, and government and society based thereon remain to this day. The Byzantine Empire When the Roman Empire divided under the Emperor in the late 200s CE. The Eastern half of the empire became known as the Byzantine Empire, as its new capital was built on the site of the old Greek city Byzantium. When the western half was overrun in the late 5th century CE, the Byzantine Empire became supreme. The Byzantine Empire preserved much of the GrecoRoman culture, and helped spread it across a vast region. Maintaining control over much of the old Roman territories, the Byzantine Empire also spread its power and influence into new areas, such as Russia. Byzantine missionaries spread the Orthodox Christian religion to Russia, and also adapted the Greek alphabet to provided the Slavic speaking peoples a written language called Cyrillic, after the monk Cyril who helped create it. Russia and Eastern Europe also adapted art and literature from the Byzantines, as well as architecture. In return, these areas became important trading partners for the Byzantines. Byzantine Empire The Mongol Empire The Mongols were a nomadic tribe of herders who lived in Central Asia. Under their greatest leader, Genghis Khan, they conquered the world's largest empire to date. The Mongols ruled, at one time or another, Russia and parts of Eastern Europe, China, India, and parts of the Middle East. Mongol Empire Yet, little of Mongol culture remained after they have left a region. Their power was one of control. During the Pax Mongolia, or Mongol Peace, global trade expanded due to the political stability provided by Mongol rulers. Silk Road trade flourished as goods and ideas, such as gunpowder, porcelain, and the technology of papermaking were traded with the west. The Pax Mongolia was a time of trade and cultural diffusion. Political Systems Throughout history, many kinds of political systems developed in different areas of the world depending on the needs of the people, and the economic resources available. In Europe, as well as in parts of China, India, Africa, and South America, a system known as monarchy developed. Beginning in ancient Greece, the practice of democracy has continued into the 21st century. In both Europe and Japan, feudalism had developed by the 1100s. By the 1500s, absolutism, and divine right monarchy, had emerged, especially in Europe. The Enlightenment, a rejection of absolutism, forced political changes in Europe, North America and Western Asia. The 1850s saw the rapid spread of an anticapitalist economic & political system called communism. Related Political Systems monarchy a political system in which the government is under the control of one powerful leader. oligarchy a political system in which the government is under the control of a small group theocracy a political system in which the government is under the control of a religious organization or its officials. a political system in which the government is under the control of democracy the citizens themselves, or elected representatives chosen from eligible citizens. Early Systems Monarchy and the Divine Right to rule In most of the oldest river valley civilizations, the strongest military man became king. A political system in which government is controlled by a king or queen is called a monarchy. Some kings were also the chief priest in their city. This dual role was not uncommon, and served to place the king on a much higher social level than his subjects, thus making it easier for him to govern them Some kings took the religious affiliation even further, declaring they had the right to rule because God had chosen them to do so. Claiming to rule by divine right made kings appear very powerful, and closely connected to the patron god of the city. Examples of Early Monarchy Mesopotamia In Sumer and Babylon, the king was often the monarch and the high priest. The position of these so-called priest-kings was relatively unstable. If the god(s) didn't provide for welfare of the citizens, the people often held the king responsible, and overthrew him. Egypt In the land of the Nile, the all-powerful monarch was called pharaoh. The people thought pharaoh was the physical incarnation of the god Horus here on earth. As both a man and a god, pharaoh blended and used both politics and religion to govern his lands. Quick Comparison Mesopotamia Egypt Political system hereditary monarchy divine monarchy Religion polytheistic Social structure distinct social classes many social classes Women's roles very few rights polytheistic could own property and enter business Monarchy Kingship in the Ancient World China Chinese emperors justified their actions by claiming the Mandate of Heaven, or divine right of rule. The Mandate of Heaven was later used to explain the Dynastic Cycle. A dynasty would remain in power only as long as it was providing good government. When a dynasty went into decline, and began to abuse its power, it was said to lose the Mandate of Heaven, or the favor of the gods. A strong leader would usually emerge to claim the Mandate, and establish a new dynasty. The dynastic cycle would then begin again. Roman Empire By 270 BCE, Rome controlled all of Italy. They also conquered most of southern Europe and parts of Asia Minor. This expansion led to a civil war and the end of the Republic when Julius Caesar took power in 48 BCE. After his murder, Caesar's grandnephew, Augustus, became Emperor. Under Augustus, a 200 year long peace began, which is called the Pax Romana. The Pax Romana became a time of cultural and intellectual achievements for Rome, and saw the return of the monarchy to Rome. Modern European Monarchy During the Middle Ages, kings and strong nobles battled with the Roman Catholic Church for supreme power. Beginning in England and France, kings began to strengthen their central power, and restrict the Church. In Spain, England, France, Austria, Prussia and Russia, absolute monarchies were established. Each had a different level of success. Absolute monarchies also existed in Mughal India and Ottoman Asia Minor & Africa. Feudalism European Feudalism About 500 CE, much of western Europe was left without a strong centralized government due to the breakdown of the Roman Empire. With little organized resistance, Germanic invaders raided western European cities and monasteries. Because kings were often too weak to repel the invaders, many city dwellers moved into the countryside in hopes of greater safety. As a result of the invasions, and a weak central government, a new social and political system known as feudalism developed. Strong local lords formed a strict code of behavior and allegiances which became the foundation of feudal life. For example, the king controlled huge tracts of land. He would give his support and a large piece of land, called a fief, to a powerful lord in return for loyalty and military support. This meant the lord was now a vassal of the king. The Lord would then divide up that land among his supporters, usually less powerful lords, obtaining vassals of his own. The Lesser Lords would do the same, dividing up the increasingly smaller land holdings to their knights. Finally, the knights would be left in direct control of the land and the peasants or townsfolk who lived there. The peasants were expected to grow food, tend the land, and provide military support to the feudal lords. Under European feudalism, there was very little opportunity for social advancement. The Feudal Economy Feudal lords and knights lived in a manor house on a large estate. The economy that grew up around the lord's home is known as manorialism. Under this system, everyone had a welldefined place in the social structure. Many nobles became knights, mounted warriors, who lived according to a code of conduct called chivalry. They were expected to be honest, brave, and loyal to their word. Most peasants were serfs, meaning they could not leave their lord's lands without permission. The serfs farmed and provided manual and military labor for the lord, and in return, he protected them and gave them a few acres to farm for themselves. Feudal Japan Japan's feudal period lasted from the 12th century until the 19th century. During this period, society was divided in different classes. At the top, was the Emperor, although he had little real power. Japan was ruled by the Shogun, who was a military leader with near absolute control. The most successful was the Tokugawa Shogunate, which ruled Japan from 1603 until 1868. In Japan, the real political and military power was in the hands of the shogun. Much like in Europe, the shogun distributed lands to his loyal vassals, who were called daimyo. The daimyo then granted lands to their warriors, the samurai. Japanese warriors lived according to a code of conduct known as bushido, which was even stricter than that in Europe. A disgraced samurai was expected to perform hara-kiri (commit suicide) in order to maintain his family's honor. Comparison of Feudalism in Europe and Japan Europe Japan Nobility king, lord, lesser lord emperor, shogun, daimyo Warriors knights samurai Code of conduct chivalry bushido Evolution Both practices developed in response to the need for security and stability everyone had well-defined social roles helped preserve law and order Absolutism The European Model Throughout the 1500s and 1600s, absolutism, when kings or queens have complete control over government and the lives of their subjects, was the most widespread political system in use in Europe and parts of Asia. In the 1500s, Spain emerged as the first modern European power. Spain's king, Charles V, was involved in almost constant warfare. His son, Philip II, expanded Spanish influence, strengthened the Catholic Church, and, believing he ruled by divine right, made his own power absolute. Under him, Spain became the most powerful state in Europe. Religious wars between Catholics and Protestants tore France apart in the late 1500s. In the 1640s, under Louis XIV, who assumed absolute power with the help of Cardinal Richelieu, France became the most powerful state in Europe. Louis, known as "The Sun King," ruled for 72 years. His claim to power was furthered by Jacques Bousset, who argued that Louis was god's representative here on earth. In Russia, Peter the Great used autocratic methods to Westernize Russia, pushing through social and economic reforms and importing western technology. Later, he achieved the Russian dream of a warm-water port on the Black Sea by waging war against the Ottoman Empire. The Response to Absolutism in England Beginning in 1603 in England, the Stuart kings James I and Charles I, clashed with Parliament over royal authority, money, foreign policy, and religion. Civil war broke out in 1642 when Charles I tried to arrest the radical leaders of the House of Commons. In the end, a victorious Parliament executed Charles, abolished the monarchy, and created a republic headed by Oliver Cromwell. The Glorious Revolution of 1688, which established the English Bill of Rights, ensured the supremacy of Parliament over the monarchy. Under the Bill of Rights, England became a constitutional monarchy. The king or queen would now be only a symbol for the country. The Islamic World There are also several examples of absolute monarchy in the Muslim world. In Islamic history, the Ottoman sultan Suleiman is considered to be the perfect ruler. He is said to have had all of the most important qualities of an Islamic ruler, especially knowledge of justice. In addition, he is viewed by many as a law giver, a great soldier, and a magnificent poet. A contemporary of Suleiman, Akbar the Great, ascended the throne in 1556, at the age of thirteen. The third Mughal emperor of India, Akbar won the support of Hindus and Muslims. His greatest accomplishment was the institution of an efficient bureaucracy that helped to run the empire. Enlightenment Background The Enlightenment developed as an extension of the Scientific Revolution. During the Scientific Revolution, Europeans discarded traditional beliefs and began using reason to explain the world around them. While the Scientific Revolution focused on the physical world, the Enlightenment attempted to explain the purpose of government, and describe the best form of it. The most influential Enlightenment thinkers were Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Voltaire, Baron de Montesquieu, and Jean Jacques Rousseau. Tasks: 1. Define the following terms a. Hellenistic Culture b. Patricians/ Plebeians c. Byzantine Empire d. Pax Mongolia e. Silk Road f. Monarchy g. Democracy h. Pharaoh i. Pax Romana j. Fief k. Knights/ Chivalry l. Shogun m. Samurai/ Bushido n. Westernize 2. For each of the following individuals explain who they are and their historical importance (3 or more sentences for each) a. Alexander the Great b. Julius Caesar c. Augustus d. Genghis Khan e. Louis XIV f. Suleiman the Magnificent g. Akbar the Great 3. In small paragraph explain the historical importance of the a) Hellenistic World b) Roman Empire c) Islamic Empire d)Byzantine Empire e) Mongol Empire 4. Compare and Contrast Feudalism in Europe to Feudalism in Japan. 5. Explain Feudalism in your own words (hint: italics) 6. Complete All Documents