Strayer Ch. 4 Lecture Notes

1. StrayerCh. 4 Lecture Notes Classical Eurasian Empires 500 B.C.E. – 500 C.E.

2. Note-taking Strategy • Each slide will pose a “big picture” question. • Use these questions to guide you in your note-taking. • These will up on my website tonight if you would like to print them  show how to print note page!!!

3. Key Terms • Empire • Persian Empire • Cyrus the Great • Darius I • Persepolis • Herodotus • Hellenistic

4. Empires Overview Defining & Describing Empires

5. The Classical Era & Empires • What was the “Classical Era?” • Refers to a time in history when important historical empires were at their peak.

6. What exactly is an empire? • Empire: Political states with the ability to exercise force. • Most often associated with: • Larger, aggressive states that conquer, rule, & exploit other states/peoples. • Often rule over large variety of peoples & cultures within one political system. • Often associated with cultural & political oppression. • Not all powerful, historically important civilizations develop into empires. • Greece, Mesopotamia, & Maya all ruled through common culture but were subdivided into competing-city states.

7. When did the first empires show up? • Earliest empires first arose during the era of the first civilizations. • Mesopotamia conquered & divided by: • Akkadians • Babylonians • Assyrians • Egypt went imperial when it temporarily ruled Nubia & eastern Mediterranean. • Since then empires have been highly present & central to world history over the last 4,000 years.

8. Who were the Eurasian Empires? • Persia • Greece under Alexander the Great • Rome • China during Qin & Han dynasties • India during Mauryan & Gupta dynasties

9. What were problems/dilemmas common to all Classical Empires? • Should they impose the culture of their homeland on their conquered/varied subjects? • Should they rule conquered people directly or through appointed local authorities? • How should they extract wealth & resources from conquered territory while still maintaining order? • All eventually collapse.

10. Why are empires historically important? • Majority of humans before the 20th century lived out their lives under imperial rule. • Brought together peoples of different traditions/religions & therefore stimulated exchange of ideas, cultures, & values. • Example: Roman empire provided conditions necessary to transform Christianity from small breakaway Jewish sect into a world religion.

11. Why are empires historically important? • Despite the intense violence, they have done all of the following as well: • Provided the world long periods of peace & security • Fostered economic & artistic development • Facilitated commercial exchange • Allowed for cultural mixing

12. How did Classical Empires relate to each other? • In general, they did NOT • Mediterranean and Middle East were important exceptions • Greek & Persian Empires touched each other • Had bloody & contentious relationship for centuries • Extremely important cultural encounter

13. Persian Empire

14. Who was the Persian Empire?

15. Who was the Persian Empire? • Largest world empire in 500 B.C.E. • Traditional homeland on Iranian plateau • Lived on margins of the earlier Mesopotamian civilizations • Adopted many features from Babylonian & Assyrian empires • Much larger and more splendid • At its height it ruled over 35 million people stretching from India to Egypt. • An immensely diverse collection of languages, religions, and cultural traditions.

16. What was the Persian political system like? • Emperor/Monarch/King ruled over Persia with absolute power • Derived power from the will of Persian god Ahura Mazda • He could only be approached by humans through elaborate rituals • Upon death, the entire empire went into mourning with shaved heads, horse shearing, fires out, etc.

17. Cyrus (557 – 530 B.C.E.) • “Cyrus the Great” • Founder of the dynasty • Tolerant ruler  he allowed different cultures within his empire to keep their own institutions. • Greeks called him a “Law-Giver.” • Jews called him “the anointed of the Lord” • In 537, he allowed over 40,000 Jews to return to Palestine

18. Darius I (522 B.C.E. – 486 B.C.E.) • Established a tax-collecting system. • Divided the empire into district – satrapies. • Built the great Royal Road system.

19. How did the Persian Empire remain unified for so long? • They had an extremely effective administrative system. • Imperial appointment of governors who presided over 23 provinces • Large network of imperial spies maintained order in far corners of empire • Was generally respectful of local traditions/cultures • Adopted many local traditions/fashion to gain support of conquered peoples • “No nation so readily adopts foreign customs as Persia…” – Herodotus, Greek historian • Provided important model for future empire in region – especially Islamic

20. How did Persia impact the world they ruled? • Introduced efficient economic policies • Standard coinage • Predictable taxes levied on each province equally • Great building projects • Canal linking Nile River with Red Sea • 1,700 mile “Royal Road” linked parts of the empire together • Imperial postal system able to carry messages across entire empire in as short as 1-2 weeks • Great wealth transformed region • City of Persepolis was built with great beauty & strength

21. Persepolis Gate of Xerxes at Persepolis

22. Persepolis

23. Persepolis

24. Ancient Persepolis

25. Persepolis

26. Greek Empire

27. What was the Greek Empire? • Almost the exact opposite of Persians • Small, competing city-states allowed large amounts of political participation • Emerged around 750 B.C.E. & flourished for relatively short period (400 years) • Distinct Hellenistic culture • Only 2 – 3 million people in entire Greek/Aegean basin • Geography – mountains, valleys, seas – made for division into hundreds of city-states • Often competitive • Bound together by same language & gods worshipped • Every 4 years suspended rivalries/conflicts for Olympic games beginning in 776 B.C.E. • Dominated by large, powerful city-states • Athens, Sparta, Thebes, Corinth, Troy

28. How did Greece expand? • More focused on settlement than conquest • Often fueled by traders seeking resources & land • Between 750 – 500 B.C.E., Greek settlements all around Mediterranean basin • Brought with them culture, language, & innovations (buildings, etc.) as they fought & traded

29. What was the Greek city-state political system like? • Wide variation between city-states • Most Greek states believed in popular participation in politics • Very different than Persia! • Equality of all citizens under the law was also common in some • Citizenship varied according to location & time • Sparta had a ruling council of Elders - oligarchy • Athenians most dedicated to democracy • Man named Solon was instrumental in pushing Athenian politics in inclusive direction • “Assembly” was source of government power • Open to all MALE citizens (no slaves, foreigners)

30. What were the Greco-Persianwars? • Persian expansion into west began around 500 B.C.E. • Greek settlements on Ionia (Anatolian peninsula – Turkey) revolted against Persian rule with support from Athens. • Persia sent major military forces to punish Greens & Athens in particular. • From 490 – 479 B.C.E. Greeks held off Persians on both land & sea

31. Battle of Thermopylae • Greco-Persian War battle (480 B.C.E.) where Greeks tried to defend the pass at Thermopylae from invading Persians led by Xerxes • 300 Spartans led the defense under the leadership of Spartan king Leonidas • The Spartans held the pass for three days before being defeated

32. What were the effects of the Greco-Persian Wars? • Victory characterized as battle between “Asian” despotism & “European” freedom • Believed rights/freedom were key to victory • Beginning of east/west divide that regins to this very day • Empowered thousands of poor soldiers to demand citizenship & political participation • Led to golden-age Greek civilization • Parthenon, philosophers (Socrates), Theatre of Sophocles, etc. • Empowered Athens to seek dominion over other Greek states • Sparta resisted & led to Peloponnesian War • Greek states were exhausted, battered, & prime for Macedonian takeover

33. How were the Greek states finally unified? • Greek city-states were taken over & conquered by Macedonian Philip II in 338 B.C.E. • Philip’s son was Alexander the Great

34. How were Greek states finally unified? • Alexander the Great as Greek unifier • In his 20s, Alexander unified conquered Greek states under assault of Persia • Within 10 years of constant fighting, he had conquered Egypt & the entire Persian empire • Rule stretched from Greece to Afghanistan/India • Looted & burned Persepolis • After Alexander’s death in 323 B.C.E., empire divided into three Greek-ruled components: • Ptolemaic – Egypt • Seleucid – Persia • Antigonid– Greek/Macedonian

35. What was the effect of Alexander’s conquest? • Introduced Hellenistic culture into Middle East, Egypt, & India • Greek became language of the learned • Indian emperor Ashoka even published his decrees in Greek • Cities established along the way became important cultural trading posts • Large supporter of libraries/learning

36. What was the Greek Empire’s political structure like? • Greeks/Macedonians were political elites • Different laws established for Greeks & non-Greeks • Led to rebellion by conquered peoples

37. How did the Greek Empire remain in power for so long? • Tolerant towards conquered peoples • Intermarriage was encouraged • Opened citizenship to conquered peoples if certain criteria was met

38. Review Terms • Empire • Persian Empire • Cyrus the Great • Darius I • Persepolis • Herodotus • Hellenistic • Alexander the Great • Thermopylae • Greco-Persian War • Peloponnesian War • Oligarchy • Sparta • Athens • Solon