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The Empires of the
Axial Age
Invaders, Traders and Empire
Builders
Warm Up: Define the
following
1.empire
2.monotheistic
3.civil law
4.rule of law
Definitions
Empire – Group of states or territories
controlled by one ruler.
Monotheism – Belief in one god.
Civil law – Body of law dealing with the
private lives of individuals.
Rule of law - Government by law. The rule
of law implies that government authority
may only be exercised in accordance with
written laws, which were adopted through
an established procedure.
The First Empire Builder
Invasion and
conquest were
prominent features
of the ancient
Middle East. About
2300 BC, Sargon,
the ruler of
neighboring Akkad,
invaded and
conquered the citystates of Sumer. He
built the first empire
known to history.
Akkad (in green)
Sumerians
Sumerian Religion Polytheistic
Enki
Innana
Anthropomorphic
Gods
Mesopotamian Trade
“The Cuneiform
World”
Cuneiform: “Wedge-Shaped”
Writing
Cuneiform Writing
Sumerian Scribes
“Tablet House”
Ziggurat at Ur
 Temple
 “Mountain
of
the Gods”
Sargon of Akkad:
The World’s First Empire
[Akkadians]
Successive Mesopotamian
Empires
Babylonian Empire – ca. 1790 BC
Hammurabi’s Code
Hittite Empire – ca. 1400 BC
Ironworking Technology
Assyrian Empire – ca. 1000 BC
Most extensive, except for the
Persian Empire
Babylon Revisited – ca. 612 BC
King Nebuchadnezzar builds the
Hanging Gardens.
Click here and on the picture for links to Hanging Gardens and
Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
The Babylonian Empires
Hammurabi’s [r. 1792-1750 B. C. E.]
Code
Hammurabi, the Judge
Assyrian Empire – ca. 1100 BC
Contributions of the Assyrians
Improved iron weaponry.
Warfare was central to the culture.
Encouraged a well-ordered society.
First rulers to develop extensive laws
regulating life within the royal
household.
5. At Nineveh, King Assurbanipal
founded one of the first libraries,
collecting cuneiform tablets from all
over the empire.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Greek Civilization
1750 BC – 133 BC
Early Minoan
civilization – the
forerunner for Greece
- began on the island
of Crete, around 1700
BC. Evidence shows
extensive trade and a
very advanced culture,
which was exported to
mainland Greece at
Mycenaea.
Click here for online information
about Mycenaean culture.
Mycenaea
How did the geography of Greece
present obstacles to a unified Greek
country?
Minoan Civilization
Minoan Civilization was one of the earliest
examples of what has come to be called
Greek civilization.
Minoans were trading at the same time as
the Phoenicians, Egyptians and
Babylonians.
Very unequal social
structure with a
malnourished lower class.
This led to constant revolts
and an overthrow of the
nobility.
Mycenaeans
1600 BC – 1200 BC
 Sea traders – beyond Aegean to Sicily, Italy, Egypt and




Mesopotamia.
Warriors, living in several city states.
The Mycenaean city state became the mainland Greek civilization.
Best known for Trojan War.
1200 BC Mycenaean Civilization collapsed because of sea invaders.
Trade and culture are at a standstill for about 100 years.
The Trojan War was fought in Troy, a trading city in Anatolia.
Phoenicians – ca. 1200 BC
While powerful rulers
subdued large
empires, the
Phoenicians gained
fame as sailors,
Phoenician ships exhibited the
traders and
highest technology of the time.
colonizers. They
occupied a string of
cities along the
coastal
Mediterranean and
traded as far away as
Africa and India.
Contributions of the
Phoenicians
Traded extensively
in the
Mediterranean.
Trade goods
included royal
purple dye, glass,
rare cedar wood,
linen fabric, metal
ware and papyrus
Introduced the
Phoenician
alphabet, which we
use today.
Athens and Sparta
(Click above for a web chart comparison of Athens and Sparta.)
1200 – 0 BC
Greece itself was made up of separate
city-states, which were constantly at
war.
Define city-state
City-state definition: Political unit made
up of a city and the surrounding lands.
Two major city-states: Athens and
Sparta.
Create a chart on your own paper like
the one which follows.
Athens
Government:
Limited democracy (only male
citizens could participate),
Council of 500 which made the
laws, voting Assembly.
Soldiers:
Citizen soldiers – only during
wartime
Slaves:
No political rights or freedoms.
Owned by individuals
Women:
Cared for the home, limited
political rights.
Education:
Upper class boys only. Military
training and preparation for
government involvement.
Knowledge was important for a
democratic government.
Sparta
Government:
Two kings (military generals)
and a council of elders.
Citizens were male, native
born, over 30.
Soldiers:
Military society, all males
prepared to be soldiers from
birth. Soldiers from age 7 – 30.
Slaves
Owned by the State
Women:
Prepared physically for
fighting, right to inherit
property, must obey men.
Education:
Boys only. Military based
training from age 7. Taught to
fight. Prohibition against
trade, travel and mixing with
other city-states.
Persian Empire – ca. 500 BC
Contributions of the
Persians
1. Pursued a policy of tolerance in
dealing with the extensive territories
and cultures they conquered.
2. Introduced the idea of coinage/ money
economy or metal disks representing
money.
3. Created the first extensive, well built
road to unite the empire. Known as
the Royal Road.
Cyrus & Darius the Great
580 – 529 B. C. E.
A tolerant ruler  he
allowed different cultures
within his empire to keep
their own institutions.
The Greeks called him a
“Law-Giver.”
The Jews called him “the
anointed of the Lord.”
(In 537, he allowed over
40,000 to return to
Palestine).
526 – 485 B. C. E.
Established a taxcollecting system.
Divided the empire into
districts called SATRAPIES.
Built the great Royal Road
system and also created a
standard monetary system
adopted by the Lydians.
Established a complex
postal system.
Created a network of spies
called “the King’s eyes and
ears.”
Cyrus the Great
 A tolerant ruler  he
allowed
different cultures within
his
empire to keep their own
institutions.
 The Greeks called him a
“Law-Giver.”
580 – 529 B. C. E.
 The Jews called him “the
anointed of the Lord.” (In
537,
Darius the Great
(526 – 485 B. C. E.)
 Built Persepolis.
 He extended the
Persian Empire to
the
Indus River in
northern
India. (2 mil. s.q.
mi.)
 Built a canal in
Egypt.
Darius the Great
(526 – 485 B. C. E.)
 Established a tax-collecting
system.
 Divided the empire into
districts
called SATRAPIES.
 Built the great Royal Road
system.
 Established a complex postal
system.
Ancient Persepolis
Persepolis
The People of Persepolis
Persian Archers & Soldiers
Royal Road:
Silk Road Traders
Ancient trade was not limited to the Mediterranean
region. The Chinese Emperor Wudi opened up a
trade route, later called the Silk Road that linked
China and the west for centuries.
Silk Road trade goods included silk, whose
Click here for British Museum production secrets were carefully guarded by
Silk Road exhibition website. the Chinese, jade, and porcelain in return for
glassware, linen, fabric and cedar wood .
The Hebrews: Empire Builders
of Another Kind - Religion
“I am the Lord your
God, who brought
you out of the land
of Egypt, out of the
house of bondage.
You shall have no
other gods before
Me.”
These words, the first of
the Ten Commandments
– set the Hebrews apart
from all other people of
the Fertile Crescent.
Instead of worshipping
many gods (polytheism)
they prayed to one God
(monotheism). The basis
for their Code of Laws is
known as “the Ten
Commandments.” This is
the root of Judaism.
Contributions of the Hebrews:
Ethical Monotheism
Monotheism – belief in
one God
Covenant – belief that
they had made a
binding agreement
with God
Ethical Law Code – A
law code sent by God
himself based on
personal morality: the
Ten Commandments
Click here and on the picture for
links to a history of the Hebrews.
Zarathustra [Zoroaster], 6c
BCE:
Good Thoughts, Good Deed, Good Words
“Tree of Life”
Extent of Zoroastrianism
Dualistic Battle of
Good vs. Evil
Ahura Mazda
“Holy Spirit”
Ahriman
“Destructive
Spirit”
Zend-Avesta
(The “Book of Law”)
The “Sacred Fire”  the force to
fight evil.
Empires of the
Ancient World
Define the following:
1. civilization
2. democracy
3. republic
4. rule of law
Warm Up Definitions
Civilization – complex, highly organized
social order.
2. Democracy – government in which the people
hold ruling power.
3. Republic – system of government in which
representatives are chosen by the people. It is
a form of democracy
4. Rule of law - government by law. The rule of
law implies that government authority may
only be exercised in accordance with written
laws, which were adopted through an
established procedure.
1.
Persian Wars
490 – 479 BC
The Greek city-states did not unite until
faced with a common enemy: Persia
Delian League
By 479 BC, the Greeks had defeated the
Persians on land in Asia Minor and
stopped their advance.
Athens emerged from the war as the most
powerful city-state in Greece.
To continue the struggle against Persia, it
organized the Delian League, an alliance
with the other Greek city states.
Athens dominated the Delian League and
used its wealth to create an Athenian
empire.
Athens –
The City Pericles Built
 Direct Democracy – Citizen assembly
voted directly on laws
 Huge construction projects –
Acropolis and Parthenon rebuilt
 Emphasis on arts, architecture,
philosophy and medicine
Greek Philosophers
(Lovers of Wisdom)
Socrates
Socrates was born in the mid 400's B.C He taught
philosophy and taught Plato.
Before 400 B.C., he began questioning Athenian values,
laws, customs, and religion.
In 399, he was brought to trial and found guilty of treason
to the gods. He was sentenced to death. His teachings
were written down by his student, Plato.
He was the first to make a clear distinction between the
body and soul, placing a higher value on the soul. He
had a noble life, and his calm acceptance of death made
him a model for other philosophers to follow.
Greek Philosophers
(Lovers of Wisdom)
Plato
Plato, one of the most famous Greek philosophers, was
born in Athens.
In 403 B.C., democracy was restored to Athens. Plato
then tried to get involved in politics, but was repelled
again when his friend and teacher Socrates was
sentenced to death in 399 B.C. Plato left Athens after
Socrates was killed. He returned in 387 B.C., and
founded a school of philosophy called the Academy.
The Academy was considered the first university by
many people.
He wrote the republic in which he described a perfectly
governed society divided into three groups: Farmers and
Artisans; Warriors; and the Ruling Class. In his book the
person with Greatest Insight and the best Philosopher
was the King.
Greek Philosophers
(Lovers of Wisdom)
Aristotle
Aristotle was born in Stagira. His father was Nichomachus, who
was the personal physician to Amyntas II, king of Macedonia. King
Amyntas was the grandfather of Alexander the Great. Aristotle's
parents died when he was young, so a man named Proxemus
raised him as his own.
When he was 18, he attended the Academy, where he was a
student for 20 years. He was known as "the intelligence of the
school" and "reader".
In 347 B.C., when Plato died, Aristotle joined a group of Plato's
disciples that lived with Hermias, a former Academy student. In 343
or 342 B.C., Philip II of Macedonia asked Aristotle to supervise the
education of his son, Alexander, who later conquered Greece.
Aristotle returned to Athens in 334 B.C. and founded the Lyceum, a
school of philosophy.
After Alexander the Great died in 323 B.C., Aristotle was charged
with impiety, which was a lack of reverence for the gods, by the
Athenian people. The Athenians resented his friendship with
Alexander, who conquered them. Aristotle went to Chalcis,
remembering similar charges against Socrates in 349 B.C. He died
one year later in Chalcis.
Athens –
Conquered by Sparta
In 404 BC, Sparta attacked and conquered the fading
Athenian empire in what came to be know as the
Peloponnesian War. For the next century, fighting
continued to dominate the Greek city-states. By 359 BC,
the Macedonians from the north, under the leadership of
Philip II invaded and conquered all of Greece.
The World of
Alexander the Great
359 BC – 323 BC

Philip conquered Greece in 359 BC
 His next conquest was to be the
Persian empire.
 The Macedonian army was the most
superbly trained in the world. It
made use of the phalanx
configuration.
 Philip was assassinated before he
could attack and conquer Persia.
Philip of Macedonia
 His son, Alexander (20)– took the
throne.
Over the course of the next eleven years,
Alexander proceeded to conquer the entire
Persian empire. When Darius III died,
Alexander took over all of his realm and his
possessions.
Alexander
The Legacy of Alexander
Upon the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC, his
empire began to divide and dissolve. However, Alexander
left behind a legacy of Greek thought, language and
custom that survives in part today.
 Local cultures assimilated Greek ideas and
language. They became Hellenic – or “Greek like” The
Hellenistic Age is the age of world wide Greek culture
after Alexander.
 Left behind the idea that all people are morally
equal. Aided in the spread of Christianity.
 Encouraged the work of scholars. Built libraries all
over the empire – especially at Alexandria, Egypt.
Emphasized mathematics, medicine, science and
philosophy.
Review of Government Systems:
Monarchy
State ruled
by King
Rule is
Hereditary
Some rulers
claim divine
right
Practiced by
Mycenae
(1450 BCE)
Aristocracy
State ruled
by nobility
Rule is
hereditary &
Based on land
ownership
Social Status
& Wealth
support rulers’
authority
Practiced by
Athens (594
BCE)
Oligarchy
State ruled
by small group
of citizens
Rule is based
on wealth
Ruling group
controls
military
Practiced by
Sparta (800622 BCE)
Direct
Democracy
State ruled
by its citizens
Rule is based
on Citizenship
Majority rule
decides vote
Practiced in
Athens (461
BCE)
The Roman World
The earliest of the Roman civilizations were the Etruscans.
With the fall of Hellenic influence, the Etruscans
conquered all of the Italian peninsula. Their competition for
control of the Mediterranean Sea were the Carthaginians in
Africa.
After three wars
with the
Carthaginians –
called the Punic
wars – the Romans
emerged as the
supreme rulers of
the Mediterranean
area.
The REAL Hannibal
In 218 BC the Carthaginian
general Hannibal led his army,
including dozens of war
elephants, from Spain across
the Pyrenees, through Gaul to
Rome. Hannibal surprised the
Romans and began 15 years
of fighting. In the end, the
Romans attacked Carthage
and ended Hannibal’s attacks
against Rome. Rome now
ruled the Mediterranean.
The REAL Hannibal
“The Carthaginians fought for their own
preservation and the sovereignty of Africa. The
Romans for supremacy and world domination.” (
a Greek witness to the destruction of Carthage.)
The Romans were committed to a policy of
imperialism.
Define “imperialism”
Domination by one country of the political,
economic or cultural life of another country or
region.
The Republic of Rome
Define Republic
Republic: System of
government in
which officials are
elected by the
people.
Senate: Most
powerful governing
body. 300 members
– all patricians.
Made the laws.
First laws codified
into the
Twelve Tables
Two Consuls –
elected by Senate.
Ran the government
and the army.
Tribunes – elected
by the people
(plebeians)
Judges – Oversaw
courts cases
 Wide spread use of
slave labor from
conquered territories
 Slave labor forced
small farmers out of
business. Led to
mass unemployment
and poverty.
 Mob riots and
corruption in the
government.
 Attempts at reform
failed.
 Civil wars began.
 Julius Caesar
emerged as dictator
of Rome
Julius Caesar and the
Empire of Rome
Caesar conquers Gaul What is
Gaul called today?
France
First Triumvirate: Julius Caesar,
Pompey, and Crassus
Caesar defeats Pompey in a civil
war after Crassus dies in battle.
Caesar pursues Pompey to Egypt
where he meets Cleopatra and has
a child with her.
Caesar becomes dictator of Rome
Caesar is assassinated by the
Senate he tried to displace.
Rome plunges into Civil War.
Marc Anthony and Cleopatra are
defeated by Caesar Augustus.
Caesar Augustus ends all hope for
a further Roman empire.
Rome at its Height
60 – 400 AD
On your own paper, describe the extent of the Roman
Empire at its height. Be sure to name oceans,
rivers and seas in your description.
Pax Romana
Pax Romana, Latin for "the Roman peace", is the
long period of peace experienced by states
within the Roman Empire. The term stems from
the fact that Roman rule and its legal system
pacified regions which had suffered from the
quarrels between rival leaders, sometimes
forcefully. During this time Rome still fought a
number of wars against neighboring states and
tribes, most notably the Germanic tribes and
Parthia. It was an era of relative tranquility, in
which Rome endured neither major civil wars,
such as the perpetual bloodshed of the first
century BC, nor serious invasions.
Characterized by rule by emperors and a lack of
democracy. Strong military presence.
The Roman Achievement
 Roman Roads - As early as the 4th century BC, a good
road system was recognized as vital for military
deployment, communication and increasing
commerce. By having an option to traveling around
the peninsula or along the coast line of Italy, travelers
and merchants could avoid some threat of storms,
pirates and navigational problems.
 Well trained and extensive military. Because the
military presence on Roman roads was so extensive,
travel and trade were safer and much faster.
 Roman rule of law - An accused person is innocent
until proven guilty.
The Roman Achievement
The Roman Achievement
 Aqueducts – Roman
water systems often
carried water to
cities from
mountain streams
hundreds of miles
away. Only a highly
organized
civilization with
advanced
technology could
create such a
system.
The Roman Achievement
 Highly sophisticated
public buildings and
baths.
The Rise of Christianity
Despite Roman persecution
of the early Church, the Pax
Romana and the extensive
Roman transportation
system allowed Christianity
to spread throughout the
Roman empire. The huge
slave population made
Christianity attractive to a
wide section of the
population. By 312 AD,
Emperor Constantine had
decreed Christianity the
official religion of Rome.
Jesus healing the blind man.