Ancient Empires
An Introduction to Eight Imperial Civilizations of the Ancient World
Overview
*	The Evolution of Civilization
*	Anthropology and Archaeology in Historical Analysis
*	The Rise and Characteristics of Empires
*	Cities and Technologies
*	Timelines
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
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.
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.

The Importance of Archaeology
*	Art of History
*	Written records:
•	political, military, economic
*	Bias toward rich & powerful
*	Science of Archaeology
*	Adds accurate detail about daily life of ordinary people
*	Changed modern view of history
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
*	Archaeology
*	Takes time, money
*	Started in Europe
•	Heinrich Schliemann
–	Wealthy German businessman
–	Excavated Troy 1870’s
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
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
The Agricultural Revolution
*	Developed in semi-arid areas adjacent to river valleys
*	Need to store collected cereals
*	Impact of agriculture
*	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
Phases of Cultural Development
•	Hunting & gathering
•	Agriculture
*	Domestic plants
*	Domestic animals
•	Towns & Cities
*	Population increase
*	Urbanization
*	Specialization
*	Competition
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
*	Simple joys
*	Family and friends
*	Games, songs, stories
*	Faith
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
Birthplace of Empires
*	River valleys
*	Life-giving
*	Godlike
*	Human innovations
*	Development of crop species
*	Irrigation systems
•	Mesopotamia
*	Calendars
•	Nile Valley flooding
The Rise of Cities
*	Ecological richness of valley attracts people
*	Cities
*	Centre of richness
*	Expanded areas of control
*	Walled for protection
•	Repelled invaders
•	Attracted immigrants
*	Emblems of Empire
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
Imperial Cities
*	Dense population
*	Urbanization processes
*	Cultural innovation
*	Driven by
*	Commerce
*	Cultural interaction
The Elements of Empire
*	Elements
*	Peoples
*	Goods
*	Ideas
*	Existence & dynamism of elements depend on
*	Movement
*	Exchange
City As Symbol of Wealth
*	Struggle for control of cities
*	Richness:  ability to produce surplus goods and services
*	agriculture
*	pottery, metalworking
*	commerce
*	Supported
*	nobility, administrative class, army
*	Increased wealth, population by immigration
Civilization to Empire
*	City
*	Agriculture means larger towns
*	Specialized buildings, occupations
*	City-State
*	Metropolis and hinterland
•	Interaction of towns and cities
*	State
*	Equality of cities e.g. Italy in Roman Republic
*	Empire
*	Subject states e.g. Aztec Empire
Culture and Expansion
*	The Stay-at-Homes
*	China, Egypt, Maya
*	Little knowledge of other empires beyond their boundaries
*	The Expansionists
*	Rome, Greece
*	Pursuit of trade or conquest
*	Limited by
•	Natural obstacles
•	Opposing forces
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
Timelines
*	Framework for understanding
*	Time sequence of development of culture
*	Marked by dynasties, technological progress
*	Rise-and-fall image
•	Spengler’s view of history