AP World History
Chapter 4 Reading Guide
CHAPTER PREVIEW
If you preview this chapter prior to completing this study guide, you are far more likely to comprehend the reading as well as identify
areas in which you know you will need help. Remember that you must ALWAYS search for connections to the 5 AP World History
Themes (see syllabus for explanation of each theme).
CAREFULLY read the title and chapter outline on p. 97 and preview the change and comparison questions in the margins
throughout the chapter and the empire maps throughout the chapter.
PROMPTS
Prompt 1 (Author’s Purpose): Why do you think the author begins a chapter on Eurasian Empires (500 B.C.E.-500 C.E. by
discussing the United States in 2007? What is the author’s purpose?
Prompt 2: A thesis is a position statement that must be supported by supporting evidence. Support the following thesis with at least
seven pieces of supporting evidence:
“Although Persia did have a series of strong rulers, the longstanding dominance of the Persian Empire was due more to organization
and infrastructure than it was to heavy-handed government.”
Chart #1: Although SPICE and SPRITE are good generic categorization tools to use when studying history, certain topics can be
understood better with more specialized categories. For the study of empires, try out FOG RED:
F
ounding/ Background (how
was empire created?)
Organization (how was
empire held together and/or
expanded?)
Government (what methods
of government were used?)
R
eligion (what religion(s)
was practiced? How
important was religion to
holding empire together?
Characteristics of the Persian Empire:
conquests under Cyrus and Darius between 557 and 486 B.C.E.
partially built on earlier foundations of the Babylonians and Assyrians
conquests eventually stretched from Egypt to India (35 million people!!!)
Economy/Trade (what was
the economic basis of the
empire? How important was
trade? Trading partners?)
Decline/Fall: (what factors
HINT: Read about the Greco-Persian Wars and the conquests of Alexander)
contributed to the decline and
fall of the empire?)
Prompt 3: Assess the validity of the following thesis (either support it with supporting evidence or refute it with refuting evidence):
“Classical Greece did not share any characteristics of other empires, and should not be considered an empire at all.”
Chart #2: Although SPICE and SPRITE are good generic categorization tools to use when studying history, certain topics can be
understood better with more specialized categories. For the study of empires, try out FOG RED:
Founding/ Background (how
was empire created?)
Characteristics of the Greek Empire (if it’s correct to call it an empire…):
conquests under Cyrus and Darius between 557 and 486 B.C.E.
partially built on earlier foundations of the Babylonians and Assyrians
conquests eventually stretched from Egypt to India (35 million people!!!)
Organization (how was
empire held together and/or
expanded?)
Government (what methods
of government were used?)
R
eligion (what religion(s)
was practiced? How
important was religion to
holding empire together?
Economy/Trade (what was
the economic basis of the
empire? How important was
trade? Trading partners?)
Decline/Fall: (what factors
contributed to the decline and
fall of the empire?)
HINT: Read about the Greco-Persian Wars and Alexander!
Prompt43: Considering the evidence, would you say the conquests and policies of Alexander did more to benefit or to harm the
reputation of the Greeks throughout Eurasia? Be sure to support your position with specific evidence, and use counter-arguments
to strengthen your position. You should attempt to use the following terms in your response:
Hellenistic/Hellenism
rebellions
Alexandria
commerce
Ashoka
cultural interaction/separation
cultural diversity
caste system
Chart #3: Strayer chooses to write about the Roman Empire and the Chinese Empire during the Qin and Han dynasties in a
comparative format. It is up to us to pick out the details:
Roman Empire
Foundin
g/
Organiz
ation
Govern
ment
Religion
Econom
y/Trade
D
ecline/
Fall:
Be sure to acknowledge the change that takes place over time!!!
Qin and Han Chinese Empires
Prompt 5: Compare and contrast the political systems used in Rome and Qin/Han China, and explain why the Chinese system
made it possible for China to eventually become reunited as an empire, while the Roman Empire never did.
Prompt 6: Had you been called on in the 3rd century, as Rome was entering its period of decline, and asked to give some
advice on how to slow and reverse the decline of the Roman Empire, what would you have suggested? Be as specific as
possible!
Chart 4: The reading on India mainly focuses on the Mauryan Empire, but it also touches on general developments occurring
in India during the Classical Era. Your notes should encompass the whole era, not just the Mauryan Empire:
Characteristics of the Mauryan and Gupta Empires:
Founding/ Background
(how was empire created?)
Organization
(how was
empire held together and/or
expanded?)
Government
Religion
Economy/Trade
Decline/Fall:
Prompt 7: Strayer finishes the chapter with a discussion of the legacy of the classical empires of 500 B.C.E.-500 C.E. Do you
agree that this era should be looked back on to provide models for future actions? Be sure to discuss specific aspects of these
empires that we should attempt to either emulate or avoid.