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?
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What is an Empire?
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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
Strong government
Strong 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?
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
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Persian Empire
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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
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
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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Alex’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
Roman Republic (509-44 BCE)
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Political System
Republic
 Consuls
 Senate (patricians 
upper class)
 Tribunes (plebians 
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
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?
2). Describe the City-State of Sparta. (culture, lifestyle, economy)
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.
5). Why was Alexander the Great able to conquer Greece so easily?
6). What is Hellenism and how is Alexander the Great connected to it?
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.