Empires

Empires

Patterns of Domination

Get Ready...

Who was Hammurabi?

Hammurabi established the first series of laws in known history.

What do you think those laws were like? Answer in 2-3 sentences.

Imperialism:

a policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force.

Usually, when a nation "extends" their power, it means that they extract natural resources and capital from the "Colony" and return it to Center, or Metropole of the Empire.

In the Colonial Era, from 1800 to 1914, European nations like England and France built Colonies in foreign countries. These colonies were policed by the European powers, and run for their benefit. Generally, wealth was drawn from the South to the North.

Long before the British Peace...

In the Ancient World, most of the world was organized into Empires.

These Ancient Empires were generally DESPOSTISMS, in which the ruler had absolute power. Power was also usually Hereditary, but when an Emperor died, there was generally a fierce and violent struggle to replace them.

Empires were EXPANSIONARY, constantly conquering new territory.

In many Empires, religion played a vital role in the affairs of state.

There was the Persian Peace

"Pax Britannica" was a period of relative peace, enforced by the British Empire. In this period, the British Navy used force to protect British interests, creating a period of relative peace and stability.

England was the primary beneficiary.

Colonial Empires

What do you think separates a Despotism and a Dictatorship?

Was the British Peace "worth it?"

Historically, there have been two broad categories of Empire.

In the Aztec Empire, the Priesthood drove the Empire's expansion. They needed hearts to appease their sun god, Huitzilopochtli.

The Empire would often launch wars against their neighbors in pursuit of captives for the ceremony.

The Nature of Empires - Three Case Studies

China, at the time of the Warring States

The Babylonian Empire under Hammurabi

Ancient Greece at the Time of the Peloponnesian War

Can you explain how ____ affected ____?

How would you compare ____?

Contrast_____?

How is ____ related to ____?

How would you classify the type of____?

What can you say about____?

During the "Spring and Autumn Period ( 771 to 476 BC) warring states in The Chinese Empire struggled for control of the Empire.

This did not change the basic Chinese understanding of themselves at the center of the world, and beyond their borders, there were only barbarians.

Sparta and Athens had been allies during a massive Persian invasion, but once the common enemy had been defeated, historian Thucydides argued that, " "The growth of the power of Athens, and the alarm which this inspired in Lacedaemon [Sparta], made war inevitable."

Hammurabi was the sixth king of the First Babylonian Dynasty, reigning from 1792 BC to 1750 BC. He was preceded by his father, Sin-Muballit, who abdicated due to failing health. During his reign, he conquered the city-states of Elam, Larsa, Eshnunna, and Mari. He ousted Ishme-Dagan I, the king of Assyria, and forced his son Mut-Ashkur to pay tribute, thereby bringing almost all of Mesopotamia under Babylonian rule

Today, you are a historian. Choose an empire to study more closely.

Task - Using the primary source document you have chosen, write an introduction to a history of this Empire.

Things to consider: Write for an audience. You are writing for students of history.

Create an ACE Paragraph. Use the checklist.

Exit Question

Today's United States has much in common with ancient Empires. America was vast, and populated by diverse inhabitants. It is split into districts, but governed from the Center. America has used war as a means of territorial expansion.

So, is America an "Empire?"

Why or why not?

Babylon: What do the codes say about the priorities of the Babylonian Empire?

Greece: What were the Greek attitudes about power, politics, and war?

China: How did the Chinese view the relationship between Government and the people?

When done, hand it to a neighbor. Use the ACE checklist to assess your neighbor's work.

Discuss: Are there any countries in the world today that fit this definition?

Though most inhabitants were muslim, the Empire was very diverse. There were also Christians, Jews, Arabs, Turks, Africans, and Europeans.

Still unclear about how Empires work? Ask a question using the stems.

Or

Summarize some characteristics of Ancient Empires

This religious authority boosted the Sultan's claim to political authority in the Islamic World.

In the Ottoman Empire, the Sultan was also the spiritual leader of the Islamic World, and defender of the Holy Cities of Mecca and Medina.

Clarify and Summarize