First Empires

mFirst Empires, ch 4-6
*General
-signs
  1. Large geographic area
  2. Standing army
  3. Several groups, multi-cultural
  4. Economy shows progress
  5. Stable government
  6. State religion
  7. Political centralization
  8. Normally monarchy/imperium
  9. Social classes
  10. Infrastructure – develop means of communication and transportation
  11. National financial plans
  12. Technology advances
*Particular
Greece, Rome, India, and China
Greece: the polis
  * “classical period” – about 700 – 338 BCE
  * 1800 BCE = Minoans & Mycenaeans
  * Invasion: 1200 – 700 Dark Ages
  * Athens and Sparta
  * Polis/poleis
  * “citizenship” but….”semi democratic”
  * Patriarch – head of family
  * Ex. Sparta (semi-democratic)
  * Leader: Lycurgus
  * Spartan Constitution: Follow as if following Apollo. Their system of gov
  * “Pyramids of power”
      * Government structure
        * 2 kings
        * Council of Elders – Gerousia – implement constitution
        * General assemble – all Spartan adult Males
        * 5 ephors – overseers
  * COmmuity structure
      * Spartan citizens – equals (women)(10,000-12,000)
      * Perioika – dwellers around
      * Messenian (Laconia(400,000)) – helots
  * Athens, Council of 500
  * Age of War: Persian Wars
      * Xerxes –
        * large army
        * punish Athens for supporting rebellion against Persia years before
        * Thermopolis – 3 day battle
            * Greeks out numbered 7 thousand to 10 thousand
            * First time Greece fights together instead of against each other
            * (Leonidas) king of Sparta
              * Stand and fight to the death
              * Only two people got tombstones
  1. Woman that dies giving birth
  2. A man who died in battle
  * “Golden Age of Athens” or “Age of Pericles” (479-429 BCE)
      * Classes
        * Aristocrats
        *...