The Age of Empires

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Chapter 4

• The Age of Empires

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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

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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

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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

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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!

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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

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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

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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

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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 didnt agree with his ideas
• Probably died of mercury poisoning while trying
  to find the elixir of life

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Han Dynasty

• Turmoil after death of Shi Huangdi
• Han Dynasty (by Liu Bang) ruled 400 years
• Liu established centralized government (like SHD)
• Departed from SHDs 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