Download Chapter 4 - Cobb Learning

Chapter 4
The Age of Empires
Egypt & Nubia
Middle Kingdom (2000 BCE – 1600 BCE)
Lost power due to invaders (Hyksos)
Hebrews migrated to Egypt, later enslaved
New Kingdom (1600 BCE – 1000 BCE)
Overthrew Hyksos and entered greatest period
Queen Hatshepsut – expanded trade
Thutmose (her stepson) – more warlike and
expanded south into Nubia
 Ramses II – period of peace, building







Egypt and Nubia cont.
 Egypt gradually declines and Kushites
(from Nubia) conquer Nile region
 During this time Nubia heavily influenced
by Egyptian law, religion, military, art
 Cultural diffusion
India (Chapter 7 Sec.1)
 321 Chandragupta founds Mauryan Empire
 Large army, high taxes
 Son Asoka takes over & brought Mauryan Empire to
great heights
 Promotes Buddhism, religious tolerance, roads, trade
 Upon death (232BCE) empire and unity falls apart
 United again under the Gupta Empire (Chandra Gupta
– different guy)
 Expanded empire through conquest; achievements in
arts, literature, science
Assyrians
 Northern Mesopotamia – highly advanced military;
disciplined warriors
 Metal & leather armor; iron weapons; ladders, tunnels
 Capital city: Nineveh
 Huge empire – Mesopotamia, Egypt
 No mercy to defeated; killed, banished
 Great builders; library
 Conquered by Chaldeans; rebuilt civilization in
Babylon; King Nebuchadnezzar
 Fell to the Persians!
Persians
 Strong military but tolerance and diplomacy (Iran)
 Great region of trade
 Cyrus the Great – rather than destruction, honored
local customs, religions, etc.
 Darius followed – expanded empire
 Divided into provinces; governor (satrap) ruled
 Royal Road through empire; excellent
communication
 Zoroastrianism – religion; one god, battle for good;
judged by good deeds; declined after Islam
developed
China
 Zhou dynasty had lasted about 800 years!
 Social order, harmony, respect for authority;
had begun to decline
 Confucius wanted to restore order
 5 basic relationships (ruler/subject, father/son,
husband/wife, older brother/younger brother,
friend/friend)
 Filial piety – respect of parents
 Kindness and loyalty
China cont.
 Laozi (Lao Tzu)– believed in harmony, natural order;
humans failed to follow this
 Daoism (Taoism) – followers of Laozi
 Tao – “The Way”
Qin dynasty – autocracy (unlimited power)
Qin = “Chin” = China
Qin Shi Huangdi – first Chinese emperor
Legalism - highly efficient and powerful govt. is key to
social order (facts, structure)
 Great Wall – linked several to keep out invaders; many
died in process




Chin Dynasty (Shi Huangdi)
 Legalism
 Standardized Chinese writing, currency, weights and
measures
 Multiplication table
 Expanded empire, massive fortifications (Great Wall –
beginning)
 Trade, irrigation, roads, social advances but harsh rule
 Cruel – banished or killed enemies
 Burned books that didn’t agree with his ideas
 Probably died of mercury poisoning while trying to find the
“elixir of life”
Han Dynasty




Turmoil after death of Shi Huangdi
Han Dynasty (by Liu Bang) – ruled 400 years
Liu established centralized government (like SHD)
Departed from SHD’s strict legalism; lowered taxes;
reduced harsh punishments
 Wudi held throne longer than any Han emperor
 Highly structured govt.; bureaucracy; many civil service
jobs – must have knowledge of Confucianism
 Technology – paper (helped education); collared
harness (could pull more); govt. run silk production –
closely guarded secret