Ancient Empires
An Introduction to Eight
Imperial Civilizations of
the Ancient World
An Introduction to Eight
Imperial Civilizations of the
Ancient World
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Overview
The Evolution of Civilization
Anthropology and
Archaeology in Historical
Analysis
The Rise and Characteristics
of Empires
Cities and Technologies
Timelines
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The Evolution of Civilizations
Definition: Civilization
a culture that builds cities
and has achievements in
art, literature, science, and
technology
Civilizations don’t rise
alone
End product of evolution of
culture within a geographic
area
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Rome 100 AD
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Archaeology - Definition
The study of human activity in the past,
primarily through the recovery and
analysis of the material culture and
environmental data that they have left
behind.
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Anthropology - Definition
The study of humans, past and present,
that draws and builds upon the
knowledge from the social sciences and
biological sciences as well as the
humanities and natural sciences.
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The Importance of
Archaeology
Art of History
Written records:
• political, military, economic
Bias toward rich & powerful
Science of Archaeology
Maya glyphs
Adds accurate detail about
daily life of ordinary people
Changed modern view of
history
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Key to History
History is a gift
Recreated in each generation
Human mind has not changed in
200,000 years
• Evolution of homo sapiens is cultural
Clovis
Hunter
Archaeology
Takes time, money
Started in Europe
• Heinrich Schliemann
– Wealthy German businessman
– Excavated Troy 1870’s
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Heinrich
Schliemann
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Archaeology and
Anthropology
Science of Anthropology
Archaeology
Cultural anthropology
Linguistics
Physical anthropology
Cultural history
Archaeologist is anthropologist
Seeing society whole
• All social groups and functions
• more accurate, meaningful
interpretation of ancient
cultures
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Hunter-Gatherers
Big game hunting
• Nomadic, migratory herds of land
& sea mammals
• Focus on one or two species
First settlements
River valleys on migration routes
Extraction of unearned resources
• Energy from other biomes
• Larger families possible
Archaic adaptation: scheduled
collecting of seasonal foods
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The Agricultural Revolution
Developed in semi-arid areas
adjacent to river valleys
Need to store collected cereals
Impact of agriculture
Chaco granary
Stored surplus food
• Geometric increase in population
Dependence on nonfood resources
• Water, fuel, stone, metal, etc.
Transportation & trade
• Moving scarce resources between
settled villages
Urbanization, industrialization
Overpopulation, overexploitation of
resources, pollution
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French traders in a Huron village
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Phases of Cultural Development
1. Hunting & gathering
2. Agriculture
Domestic plants
Domestic animals
3. Towns & Cities
Population increase
Urbanization
Specialization
Competition
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Egyptian agriculture
Mesoamerican urban centres
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Life in the Ancient World
Populations small
Local farms, villages
Little change over time
Hard lives
Unvaried foods
No medical services
Poor sanitation
High infant mortality
rice plowing
Simple joys
Family and friends
Games, songs, stories
Faith
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Seneb the Dwarf
& family
6th Dynasty Egypt
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Cultural Growth
Theory of Diffusion
Culture and technologies
originate with one culture and
are diffused by contact with
other cultures.
Theory of Correspondence
All humans have same mental
& physical capabilities, thus
invent similar culture and
technology in similar
environments
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Birthplace of Empires
River valleys
Life-giving
Godlike
Human innovations
Development of crop
species
Irrigation systems
Nile farming
• Mesopotamia
Calendars
• Nile Valley flooding
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Egyptian scribe
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The Rise of Cities
Indus Valley Civilization
Ecological richness of
valley attracts people
Cities
Centre of richness
Expanded areas of control
Walled for protection
• Repelled invaders
• Attracted immigrants
Emblems of Empire
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Mohenjo Daro - walls and citadel
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The Rise of Empires
Rich & fertile valleys
Examples: Nile, Indus,
Huang Ho
Regional Cultures
Centred around cities
Shared trade, culture
Military dominance leads to
empire
Alexander the Great
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Imperial Cities
Dense population
Urbanization
processes
Cultural innovation
Driven by
Commerce
Cultural interaction
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The Agora - Athens
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The Elements of Empire
Elements
Peoples
Goods
Ideas
Longshan pottery
Existence & dynamism of
elements depend on
Movement
Exchange
Egyptian mural - transporting the grain
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City As Symbol of Wealth
Struggle for control of cities
Richness: ability to produce
surplus goods and services
agriculture
pottery, metalworking
commerce
rice harrowing - China
Supported
nobility, administrative class, army
Increased wealth, population by
immigration
First Emperor’s terracotta army
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Civilization to Empire
City
Agriculture means larger towns
Specialized buildings, occupations
City-State
Metropolis and hinterland
Imperial
Italy
• Interaction of towns and cities
State
Equality of cities e.g. Italy in
Roman Republic
Empire
Subject states e.g. Aztec Empire
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Aztec Empire
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Culture and Expansion
The Stay-at-Homes
China, Egypt, Maya
Little knowledge of other
empires beyond their
boundaries
The Expansionists
China
- relief
Rome, Greece
Pursuit of trade or conquest
Limited by
• Natural obstacles
• Opposing forces
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Greek colonies
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The Polynesian Case
Polynesian seafarers
3000 BC on
Sailed and colonized Pacific
• Northwest Coast
• Easter Island
No empire, colonies isolated
The Record Factor
Key is permanent records
• Written language
• Maps
Example: Greek knowledge
of Mediterranean world
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Timelines
Timeline of Ancient Egypt
Framework for
understanding
Time sequence of
development of culture
Marked by dynasties,
technological progress
Rise-and-fall image
• Spengler’s view of history
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