WHICH SOCIETY CREATES THE LARGEST
EMPIRE IN WORLD HISTORY?
THE CLASSICAL EMPIRES
Unit 2: Classical Period
600 BCE – 600 CE
Learning Targets/Key Themes
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Students will be able to:
 Define
an empire and explain why empires rise and fall
 Describe the basic features of the earliest empires
 Analyze the key interactions between Classical Empires
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These themes, along with the key vocabulary (See
handout) will be the basis for your test at the end of
this unit
Answer the following questions
in your notebook:
How would you define the term
“empire”?
 What are the reasons an empire is
created?

What is an Empire?

A state with political control of people and regions
with different cultural and ethnic backgrounds
Why Are Empires Created?
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Strong sense of Patriotism
 Extreme
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pride in one’s country
Expansion
To benefit the regions being conquered
To eliminate threats
Economic gain
To create a buffer zone (protection)
To spread religious beliefs
To gain political power
Characteristics of an Empire
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Diverse population (multiethnic)
Strong government (usually centralized)
Strong military (or standing military)
Strong diplomacy
 Peaceful
negotiations between two countries or regions
The Classical Period (600 BCE – 600 CE)
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Main Characteristics:
 Growth
of Empires
 Growth of Trade
 Cultural Diffusion
 Spreading
of cultural
ideas and traditions
from one region to
another
Review:
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What is an empire?
Why are empires created?
What is cultural diffusion?
Give one ancient example of cultural diffusion &
give one modern example of cultural diffusion.
Major Classical Civilizations
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Persia
China (Zhou, Qin, Han dynasties)
India (Gupta dynasty)
Greece
Rome
Mayans (Americas)
The Persian Empire (558-332 BCE)
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Founded by Cyrus the
Great
Darius I (521-486 BCE)
Balanced central
government and local
leaders
 Divided government into 3
districts to make it easier
to control
 Built Royal Road
 Fought in many wars that
lead to the decline of the
empire

Persian Empire

Persian Society
Women worked in textile
manufacturing
 Government used slaves to
complete public works projects
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Persian Economy
Government coined money
 Traded with Greeks and
Indians
 Main City: Persepolis
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Persian Religion
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Zoroastrianism
Ancient Greece
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Geography prevented
political unification
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Developed strong citystates instead  Athens
and Sparta
Main Problems
Wars with Persia
 Wars between city-states
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Peloponnesian Wars (431404 BCE)
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Athens vs. Sparta
Leads to downfall of
Greek city-states
Alexander the Great (332-323 BCE)
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Alexander’s father, Philip II,
conquered most of Greece
Built a massive empire,
including Greece, Egypt, and
Persia
Tries to invade India, but his
military refuses
After death, empire divided
in three parts
Main Contribution: Hellenism
 Blending of Greek and
Middle Eastern/Asian
cultures
History of Rome’s Gov’t
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800 – 509 bce: Rome controlled by nearby
monarchies or monarchies from within Rome
509 bce – 44 bce: Rome controlled by a Senate of
powerful/well-educated leaders (Patricians)
31 bce – 476 ce: Rome develops an Empire that is
led by a single Emperor
476ce : Rome falls to German warriors
(ostrogoths/visigoths/huns), leading to Europe’s
‘Dark Age’
Roman Republic (509-44 BCE)
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Political System
Republic
 Consuls
 Senate (patricians 
upper class)
 Tribunes (plebeians 
lower class)
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Focused on military
expansion
Laws  Twelve Tables
Created laws that
everyone must follow
 Protected the lower classes
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End of the Roman Republic
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Growing Tensions between
the rich and poor
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Food shortages, not
enough opportunities to
own land or get certain
jobs
Julius Caesar
General in Roman Army
 44 BCE: Invades Rome with
his own military and
declares himself “dictator
for life”
 Assassinated by upperclass senators
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The Roman Empire (31 BCE – 476 CE)
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Established by Augustus Caesar
 Continued
military expansion
 First true emperor of Rome
 “Pax Romana” (Roman Peace)
 Height
of Roman Empire; Great cultural and political
achievements
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NOT a dynasty (Unlike China and India)
 Succession
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based on military strength
Tolerated local customs and religions
Laws and Nationalism held empire together
The Roman Empire (31 BCE – 476 CE)
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Fell in 476c.e. due to a myriad of reasons:
 Corrupt
leaders (bribery, embezzlement)
 Weak boarder security (German invaders)
 Christianity spreading (didn’t want to fight)
 Moral decay (prostitution, crime, violent mobs)
 Inflation (people needed more $$ for same products)
 Over-expansion (Rome had to continue conquering to
feed lands…led to a need for further conquering)
Expansion of the Roman Republic
The Decline of the Roman Empire
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1). How did the geography of Greece impact its political development?
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2). Describe the City-State of Sparta. (culture, lifestyle, economy)
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3). Describe the City-State of Athens. (culture, lifestyle, economy)
4). Which city-state would you wish to live in back in Ancient Greece?
Explain why in complete sentences.
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5). Why was Alexander the Great able to conquer Greece so easily?
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6). What is Hellenism and how is Alexander the Great connected to it?
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7). Describe the Structure of the Roman Republic.
8). Why is Augustus Caesar considered the 1st Emperor of Rome?
9). What is the difference between Plebeians and Patricians?
10). Thoroughly explain 1 reason why the Roman Empire fell in 476c.e.
Classical China
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Zhou Dynasty (1029258 BCE)
 Mandate
of Heaven
 Rulers
are given the right
to rule by the gods
 Strong
landowners and
weak emperor
 Ends in civil war for two
hundred years
 Leads
to development of
major philosophies
Chinese Philosophies
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Confucianism
Founded by Confucius
 Relationships create an
orderly society
 Family is foundation of
society
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Daoism
“Dao” – the way
 Look to nature for order
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Legalism
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Humans are naturally evil
and will only obey authority
through force
Qin Dynasty (221-202 BCE)
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Used Legalism to
restore order
Took away power from
aristocracy
Strong centralized
government
Unified China
 Standard
language and
writing system
 Uniform laws throughout
empire
Shi Huangdi
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Proclaimed himself “First
Emperor”
Centralized power by
banning local militaries
Built roads to improve
communications
Started building the
Great Wall of China
 Forced
labor
 Also built his own tomb
with the Terracotta Army
Terracotta Army
Han Dynasty (202 BCE – 220 CE)
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Founded by a peasant
Longest Chinese dynasty
Conquered Vietnam,
Korea and parts of
Central Asia
Traded with India, Rome,
Persia
Continued building Great
Wall of China
Reformed government
Promoted Confucianism