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Name____________________________________________________________ Per.______ Robert W. Strayer Ways of the World: A Brief Global History Ways of the World: A Brief Global History with Sources Chapter Four, First Empires, 500 B.C.E.-500 C.E. (pp. 143-150) The Big Picture: Is the United States the new Roman Empire? The United States invited comparison with the Roman Empire Supporters of a dominant role for the United States argue that Americans must face up to their responsibilities as “the undisputed master of the world” as the Romans did in their time Empire has been a source of metaphors and “lessons” about personal morality, corruption, political life, military expansion, and much more o Earliest empires show up in the era of the First Civilization (Akkadian, Babylonian, & Assyran) What exactly is an empire? o Term reserved for larger and more aggressive states, those that conquer, rule, & extract resources from other states and peoples o Associated with political and cultural oppression The Eurasian empires (Persia, Greece under Alexander / Rome, China during Qin & Han / India during Mauryan & Gupta) shared a set of common problems Why have these and other empires been of such lasting fascination to both ancient & modern people? o Because they were so big, creating looming presence in their respective regions o Armies and their tax collectors were hard to avoid (were so bloody) o Conquest and the violence were hard to avoid o Easily grab our attention Empires have also commanded attention simply because they were important o Large numbers of people before 20th Century lived out their lives in empires o Imperial states brought together people of different traditions & religions o Stimulated the exchange of ideas, cultures, & values Ex: Roman Empire was arena which Christianity was transformed from Judaism Empires & Civilizations in Collision, The Persians and the Greeks: Classical era witnessed second-wave civilizations These civilizations did not directly encounter one another Great exception lay in the Mediterranean world & in the Middle East o Where Persian Empire & Greek civilization experienced interaction & clash The Persian Empire 500 BCE, Largest & most impressive of the world’s empires was Persians o Homeland lay on the Iranian plateau Persians constructed an imperial system that drew from the Babylonians & Assyrian empires Under leadership of Cyrus & Darius, Persian conquests reached from Egypt to India Persian Empire centered on cult of kingship o Ruling by the will of the great Persian god Ahura Mazda o Kings were absolute monarch, more than willing to crush rebellion What held empire together? o An effective administrative system placed Persian governors (Satraps) in each of the empire’s 23 provinces o System of imperial spies (Eyes and Ears of the King) represented a further imperial presence in the far reaches of the empire o Policy of respect for the empire’s many non-Persians o In Egypt & Babylon, Persian kings took care to uphold local religious cults in effort to gain the support of their followers and officials The infrastructure of the empire included: o System of standardized coinage o Predictable taxes levied on each province o Newly dug canal linking the Nile with the Red Sea-Expanded commerce o Royal Road (1700 miles in length) facilitated communication & commerce across empire o Imperial Persian postal system adopted same motto as the United States postal system The immense wealth and power of the Persian Empire were reflected in the construction of elaborate imperial centers, particularly Susa and Persepolis The Greeks Sharper contrasts than that between Persian Empire governed by absolute monarch & small city-states of classical Greece which allowed popular participation in political life Called themselves the Hellenes, the Greeks created a civilization Total population of Greece was just 2-3 million (fraction of the Persian Empire) Greek civilization took shape on a small peninsula Hundreds of city-states were quite modest in size (500-5000 male citizens) Each of these city-states was fiercely independent & in frequent conflict with its neighbors Despite Greek cultural identify, it did little to overcome the political rivalries of larger citystates (Athens, Sparta, Thebes, Corinth) Like the Persian, the Greeks were an expansive people that took form of settlement rather than conquest & empires o 750-500 BCE- Greek settlements established around the Mediterranean Most distinctive feature of Greek civilization and the greatest contrast with Persian o Lay in the extent of popular participation in political life that occurred within at least some of the city-states o Idea of citizenship- free people running the affairs of the states was so unique Early in Greek history, only the wealthy had the rights of full citizenship (Speaking, voting, holding public office, & fighting in army o Middle and lower class gradually obtained these rights In many places, benevolent rulers (tyrants) emerged for a time with support of poorer classes to challenge wealthy Sparta vested most political authority in Council of Elders o Council composed of 28 men over the age of sixty, derived from wealthy provided political leadership for Sparta In Athens, political participation achieved its most distinctive expression o 594 BCE- Reforming leader named Solon emerged to push Athenian politics in a more democratic direction o Debt slavery was abolished, access to public office was opened to a wider group, & all citizens were allowed to take part in the Assembly o The Assembly where all citizens could participate, became the center of political life o Athenian democracy was direct, rather than representative