The Challenges and Changes of an Empire
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- Category: History: European
- Date Submitted: 08/09/2015 10:28 PM
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THE CHALLENGES AND CHANGES OF AN EMPIRE
When we consider what an Empire is, there are some we think of instantly. The Greek and the Roman Empires spring to mind immediately. They stand apart from other civilizations from the past and while definitely different they have some very similar aspects to them. Those aspects are the things which make them memorable empires which lasted through upheaval and held together longer than many others. But what exactly was it that made them stand apart? What was it that worked so well for them and what was passed on to future empires?
A far back as 2300 B.C.E., the Akkadian Empire began to suss out what it took to build a coherent and working empire. Sargon, the King of the Four Regions, created what was perhaps the first empire by uniting his conquests into one state. He found that by allowing the local people to maintain their own institutions instead of replacing them with those of his own culture, they were more likely to accept that he was king than to revolt against him. As what could be considered a byproduct of doing so, some of the culture of the newly acquired lands seeped into the main culture of the Akkadian Empire, expanding its traditions and melding them together. (Library 2013, 19) It made more sense to try to incorporate some of their own traditions and mingle them with that of the empire as a whole, to help them maintain some sense of self and yet help them feel included within the union of cities which make up the empire. It was not until the Roman Empire that other captures states were allowed a voice in the main Empire’s political system. (Library 2013, 153)
It was in the Greek Empire that we find the beginnings of current political systems in many civilized nations. The Greek Empire brought us the division of control over the empire and put it squarely into the hands of three separate controlling bodies. They were called the Consul, The Senate and the people. It gave certain responsibilities and...
When we consider what an Empire is, there are some we think of instantly. The Greek and the Roman Empires spring to mind immediately. They stand apart from other civilizations from the past and while definitely different they have some very similar aspects to them. Those aspects are the things which make them memorable empires which lasted through upheaval and held together longer than many others. But what exactly was it that made them stand apart? What was it that worked so well for them and what was passed on to future empires?
A far back as 2300 B.C.E., the Akkadian Empire began to suss out what it took to build a coherent and working empire. Sargon, the King of the Four Regions, created what was perhaps the first empire by uniting his conquests into one state. He found that by allowing the local people to maintain their own institutions instead of replacing them with those of his own culture, they were more likely to accept that he was king than to revolt against him. As what could be considered a byproduct of doing so, some of the culture of the newly acquired lands seeped into the main culture of the Akkadian Empire, expanding its traditions and melding them together. (Library 2013, 19) It made more sense to try to incorporate some of their own traditions and mingle them with that of the empire as a whole, to help them maintain some sense of self and yet help them feel included within the union of cities which make up the empire. It was not until the Roman Empire that other captures states were allowed a voice in the main Empire’s political system. (Library 2013, 153)
It was in the Greek Empire that we find the beginnings of current political systems in many civilized nations. The Greek Empire brought us the division of control over the empire and put it squarely into the hands of three separate controlling bodies. They were called the Consul, The Senate and the people. It gave certain responsibilities and...