Chapter 4 Review Part I

Chapter 4 ‘Eurasian Empires’ Review

Persian Empire
- Largest and most impressive of the world’s empires in 500 B.C.E. (p.99)
- Imperial system drew upon Babylonian and Assyrian empires (p.99)
- Conquests reached from Egypt to India and encompassed approx. 35 million people; immensely diverse with respect to people, states, languages, and culture (p.99)
- Kings were absolute monarchs who ruled by will of great Persian Gods; held titles of nobility such as “Great king, King of kings, King in this great earth far and wide” (p.99)
- Empire held together by conquest, royal decree, and an effective administrative system consisting of governors and lower level officials in 23 provinces (p.100)
- Characterized by widespread toleration for non-Persian cultural traditions (within its subjects) (p.100)
- “there is no nation that so readily adopts foreign customs” (p.100)
- Imperial bureaucracy, complete with administrators, tax collectors, record keepers, and translators, provided a model for all subsequent regimes in the region (p.100)
- Infrastructure included system of standardized coinage, taxes, a canal linking the Nile with the Red Sea, a “royal road” spanning 1700 miles - facilitated communication and commerce (p.101)
- Its immense wealth and power were reflected in the construction of elaborate imperial centers, and other monuments, which served as powerful symbols of imperial authority (p.101)

Athenian democracy (p.104)
- Arose as the product of intense class conflict
- Abolished debt slavery, opened to access to public office to a wider group (though women, slaves, and foreigners were still precluded); also allowed for widespread participation of all citizens in the Assembly (the center of political life)
- Later reforms granted pay to holders of public office (so that even the poorest could serve)

Greco-Persian Wars
- Grew out of respective patterns of expansion (pp104-105)
- Persians 2x in 10 years (490 & 480 B.C.E) launched major military expeditions and were held off; beating the Persians in battle enormous source of pride for Greece (p.105)
- Worldview notion of East/West divide born, with Persia representing Asia and despotism and Greece signifying Europe and freedom (p.105)
- Greeks victory radicalized Athenian democracy (see above), as poorer classes, who had rowed ships to victory, were now in position to insist on full citizenship; Golden Age of Greek culture follows (p.105)
- Athenian leadership in the struggle against Persian aggression spawned its own type of imperialism. After the war, Athenian efforts to solidify its dominant position among the allies led to intense resentment and ultimately, civil war (p.105).

Alexander the Great
- In his 20’s, went on 10 yr expedition that extended Greek empire from Egypt and Anatolia to Afghanistan and India (p.106).
- Hailed as the “king of Asia” (p.107), following defeat of Persian Empire.
- Died in 323 B.C.E (p.107)
- Most significant contribution was the widespread dissemination of Greek culture (p.107)
- Wept when he had no more worlds to conquer (p.121)

Hellenistic era
- 323-30 B.C.E.(p.107)
- Characterized the manner by which Greek culture (monuments, sculptures, theatres, markets, councils and assemblies) was widely disseminated throughout Egypt, Mesopotamia, and India, following Alexander the Great’s expedition; one of the greatest cultural encounters of the classical world (p.107)
- Conquest states that emerged were very different from typical Greek city-states. They were imperialistic and forced a divide between Greeks and others such as Egyptians. Periodic rebellions ensued (p.108)
- Nevertheless, cultural interaction and blending occurred; a sizable number of native people were able to become Greek citizens (by getting a Greek education, speaking the language, dressing appropriately, and assuming a Greek name
- Greek cultural influence disappeared as Hellenistic kingdoms that supported it vanished by the 1st century B.C.E.; though in the western part Greek rule was supplanted by the Romans (p.108)