Classical Empires Flashcards
Classical India
Maurya: 322 - 185 BCE
Gupta: 320 CE - 550
What kind of government is the Mauryan Empire/Ancient India?
Bureaucratic
How many provinces are in Mauryan Empire/Ancient India?
4
Ashoka - Ancient India
son of Chandragupta, spread Buddhism
Ashoka inventions
the concept of zero,
understood the the Earth
wobbled on an axis
Who spread Hinduism in the Gupta Empire/Ancient India?
Chandragupta
Gupta Empire culture upbringing
Golden age of Buddhist & Hindu art
What lead to the decline of empire in Ancient India?
Outside invasion, devastating floods,
and political infighting
Classical China
Qin: 221 - 206 BCE
Han: 206 BCE - 220 CE
Qin Dynasty founder
Qin Shi Huang
Qin Shi Huang
Believed in absolute power to rule
and punish people who were bad
Harsh and strict rule
Enforced Legalism
Qin Dynasty best known for
building roads and canals
establishing uniform writing and measurement systems
building the Great Wall of China
Han Dynasty leadership change
revolted against Qin, unified under Liu Bang
Han Dynasty accomplishments
paper
glazed ceramics
civil service examination system
What religion spread in the Han Dynasty?
Confucianism
Silk Road (Han Dynasty)
connects China to Rome
traded silk, iron, and bronze
helped bring Buddhism to China
Women in the Han Dynasty
Many children in each
family
Arranged marriages
Subordinate to men
Schools for boys not
girls
Fall of the Han Dynasty
rebellions weakened emperor’s power
power to raise taxes to fund army backfires and governors become warlords
Classical Greece & Persia
Classical “Hellenic” Period: 490 - 323 BCE
Hellenistic: 323 - 146 BCE
Politics in Classical Greece
Roots of direct democracy began in
Athens, Greece
Sparta had a separate form of
government called an oligarchy
City states, such as Athens and
Sparta, were only unified when
under threat from the outside
Greek Art and Culture
valued order,
symmetry and balance in their
architecture and art
influential to the Romans, and
later all of Europe and the United
States
Greeks used paintings on vases,
mosaics and statues to portray
their history and culture
Peloponnesian War
War between the rival city-
states of Sparta and
Athens
Sparta and Athens fought
on and off for years
Sparta was eventually
victorious
Politics of Classical Persia
Cyrus began conquering other
kingdoms in 550 BC
Cyrus was a military genius who
believed in treating conquered people
with respect
Unlike other rulers, he honored local
customs and religions and would even
pray at local temples
Religion in Classical Persia
Zoroaster (similar to Christianity)
The Rise of Alexander
The defeat of Athens by the
Spartans weakens all of Greece
takes control after father(Philip II)’s death
What country does Alexander defeat?
Persia
tries to go to India next, but soldiers refused
When did Alexander die?
return trip home, 32 y/o
What started Hellenism?
When Alexander the great blended the Egyptian, Greek and Eastern cultures together
Classical Rome
Roman Republic: 509 - 27 BCE
Roman Empire: 27 BCE - 476 CE
Legendary Origins of Early Rome
Founded by Romulus and Remus, who
were supposedly descended from
Aeneas of Troy
Factual Origins of Early Rome
Ruled by different kings before creating
the Republic in 510 BCE
Overthrew their last king, Tarquin the
Proud, and promised never again to be
ruled by a king
What was Rome formed from?
Greek migration, the Etruscan, and
the Latins
What were the 3 wars with the Romans and the Carthage called?
Punic Wars
Hannibal invaded Rome but was later defeated
Carthage was essentially destroyed
After that they expanded east
toward Greece and Turkey
Patricians vs Plebeians in Roman Republic
Patricians held most of the political power
Plebeians were common representatives of the people
Created written laws known as the Twelve Tables
The senate was led by 2 Consuls.
Societal classes in Rome
Patricians - wealthy class
Plebeians - common farmers, artisans, and merchants
Slaves - conquered people, people who needed money, children born into
Triumvirate
3 leaders
Julius Caesar, Crassius, and Pompey
Rise of Empire in Rome
The Triumvirate doesn’t last and Rome falls into civil war
Caesar is victorious and names himself
dictator for life
Julius Caesar is killed
Nephew takes control - Octavian - changes his name to Augustus (“exalted one”) Son of god
Time of Roman Peace and prosperity: Pax Romana
Fall of Rome
A rising gap between the rich and
poor, constant invasions, Christianity
and corrupt governments
Moving the capital of the Roman
Empire to Byzantium
Abandoning old Rome
Moving the capital of the Roman
Empire to Byzantium
