Empires

Question 1

Define empires:

Answer 1

An empire is a form of political organisation where a group of societies are ruled by one dominant state. In the past few centuries, these have been very common led by powerful countries such as France, Russia and Britain.

Question 2

Essay plan for why do empires form:

Answer 2

Introduction
Gain of wealth
Military strength
Cultural dominance
Conclusion

Question 3

What are the 3 objectives of empire builders?

Answer 3

An empire usually forms to obtain wealth, use military strength and achieve cultural domination.

Question 4

How do the activities of the East India Trading Company show how Britain gained wealth from controlling India?

Answer 4

The East India Trading Company was set up by the British in India to deal in tea, tobacco and textiles. On a yearly average, the company grossed £4,473,436 on average a year, from 1600 to 1784, out of these goods. This shows that ruling governments could earn a lot out of their colonies’ riches.

Question 5

Empires also allowed their leading nation to force subject nations to buy their goods.

Answer 5

The Opium Wars between China and Britain were fought so that the Chinese would buy British opium.

Ruling states of empires would often force their colonies to buy their goods.

Question 6

How did the slave trade become a hugely lucrative business where a ship could make a triangular voyage earning money from trading different cargo on each part of the journey?

Answer 6

The triangular trade of slaves, raw materials and manufactured goods was a fundamental feature of the British empire in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.

1. Ships sail from Europe to Africa carrying good for to be exchanged for slaves.
2. Ships sail from Africa to North/South America with slaves as cargo.
3. Slaves are exchanged for raw materials (sugar, cotton, tobacco)
4. Ships sail back to Europe and sell the cargo. Then the cycle starts again.

The ships make maximum money because they never sail without a cargo.

Question 7

Another way empires could earn wealth from their subject nation is by charging taxes.

Answer 7

For example, the Ottoman empire used a tax on farming from the 14th to the 16th century to increase their wealth.

It provided great an economic boost and increased the wealth of the government.

Question 8

Empires are formed to use and increase military expertise and strength. This provides opportunity for strong ambitious people and channels their energy towards something that enhances their home country rather than causing disruption at home.

Answer 8

The Roman army was a highly organised fighting machine that sat at the heart of their imperial success.

They used superior military strength and tactics to form their empire between the 3rd century BC and the 3rd century AD in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.

It covered 2.2 million miles at its height in 117 AD. This proves that they were experienced at defending their empire for hundreds of years and were effective in expanding it too.

Question 9

What role did the army play in for formation of the British Empire?

Answer 9

The British army was deployed throughout the world to maintain a great empire. The army was very effective despite being relatively small for the area it controlled.
The British Empire was founded mainly on trade rather than warfare. By 1920 the British empire covered 23.5% of the worlds land mass.

Question 10

What role did the build up of imperial armies by European nations (Britain, France, Germany) have to play in partly creating conditions for the First Word War?

Answer 10

By the end of the nineteenth century when Britain, France and Germany had all taken substantial amounts of land in Africa their armies had grown very large.

In Germany they had a force of 1 million serving soldiers and 3.2 million reservists. It can be argued that the build up of armies to secure empire created the conditions for the First World War.

Question 11

What are the 2 military phases that a successful empire needs?

Answer 11

Throughout history empires have been founded by military strength and then go on to built efficient military structures to maintain them.

Question 12

Give an example of how cultural dominance was an important factor in making the British believe empire as a benefit to their subjects.

Answer 12

The British empire launched the civilisation mission in their colonies. This was because they thought the inhabitants were heathens and should be civilised.

Christian churches were established in the colonies to convert people to Christianity.

Question 13

Give an example of how cultural dominance was a motivating force for the Ottoman Empire?

Answer 13

The Ottomans were of Islamic religion. One of their aims was to increase the prestige of Islam in the regions they controlled.

Question 14

How did the French try to extend the geographic reach and mass of France?

Answer 14

The French wanted to truly impose themselves as a great power by trying to incorporate Algeria in Africa into France in the nineteenth century.

This shows that France had ambitions to expand their cultural dominance as well as increasing their landmass.

Question 15

Conclusion for why do empires form:

Answer 15

Empires are created for key three reasons. They form for increase the wealth of the ruling nation. They also require military strength and expertise to conquer new colonies but also to maintain dominance over them in the longer term. Finally, the ruling power tends to try to inflict their ideas and culture on their colonies. By this means the power and influence of the ruling country is seen to be increased.

Question 16

Introduction for why do empires form:

Answer 16

An empire is a form of political organisation where a group of societies are ruled by one dominant state. In the past few centuries, these have been very common led by powerful countries such as France, Russia and Britain. An empire usually forms to obtain wealth, use military strength and achieve cultural domination.

Question 17

Essay plan for: Are Empires always bad?

Answer 17

Introduction.
Positives = Development (technology, transport, trade, modernization)

Negatives = Social inequality, uprisings, protests, exploitation of natural resources.

Conclusion: They offer the possibility of development but at the expense of social inequality and can be damaging to nature when natural resources are taken.

Question 18

Essay plan for: Why do Empires fall?

Answer 18

Introduction
Declining finances
Decline in ruler’s military strength
Uprisings
Conclusion

FMU

Question 19

Suggested introduction:

Answer 19

An empire is a form of political organisation where a group of territories is ruled by one dominant state.

Empires have historically been the most common form of political organisation, and have ruled over much of the world’s population.

The Roman Empire was one of the earliest examples of this, beginning its expansion in 753 BC.

However, subsequent powers followed closely in the Romans’ footsteps.

The Ottomans began building their empire in the 14th century, while the Europeans battled to acquire their colonies from the 17th to 19th century.

All historical empires have, however, fallen. The main reason for this was the decline in imperial finances.

As such, empires could not maintain their military forces, and ensuring the success of uprisings

Question 20

Example of failure of imperial finances:

Answer 20

The running of an empire requires an extensive and efficient financial system.

Rulers need to be able to collect sufficient revenues to maintain the administrative system in the empire.

The British Empire, for example, collapsed after extensive expenditure in the World Wars prevented it from being able to support its colonies.

After WW1 and WW2, the British had spent around $20 billion.

As such, the British could no longer afford to employ people, create industry and make government bases in the colonies.

Question 21

Example of failure of imperial finances:

Answer 21

During the 18th and 19th centuries in the Ottoman Empire, tax revenues began to fall. Additionally, British and Dutch attempts to close off trade routes in the Middle East caused economic difficulties.

The Ottomans could no longer afford to maintain their empire against internal and external aggressors.

Provinces such as Egypt, broke away from the Empire, while the Europeans were able to help themselves to Algeria, Tunisia, and areas of the Gulf.

Question 22

Give an example of why empires fall because of the ruling government’s decline in military strength. (This is usually linked to funding.)

Answer 22

When a ruling government can no longer pay its soldiers, the military will inevitably decrease in size and strength. During WW1 and WW2, the British lost millions of men, which considerably reduced the military presence in the empire.

Following WW2, the British failed to muster the man power to effectively re-assert control in South East Asia. Burma became independent in 1948, and after years of unsuccessful fighting, Malaya became independent in 1957.

Question 23

Give a second example of why empires fall because of the ruling government’s decline in military strength. (This is usually linked to funding.)

Answer 23

The Roman Empire is another example of this, after the 3rd century AD, the Romans suffered numerous invasions from the Persian Empire and other barbarian tribes.

This brought the Empire to its knees, and although some recovery was achieved, the Empire entered into a slow decline, as it proved unable to militarily defend its territories.

Rome eventually fell in 446 AD.

Question 24

Give an example of how uprisings further weaken a failing empire:

Answer 24

Once an empire’s financial and military systems have been sufficiently weakened, uprisings can successfully force imperial powers to abandon territories.

India was one of the most important colonies in the British Empire, but in 1947, Britain left India, declaring it a free state.

This was because of many revolts and protests by the people of India who desired freedom, which the British could no longer suppress.

Question 25

Give another example of how uprisings further weaken a failing empire:

Answer 25

Uprisings were also important in the fall of the Ottoman Empire.

They faced a series of rebellions in the 19th century which crippled their army and greatly weakened them, making themselves prone to invasion and takeover by as more powerful nation.

Question 26

Suggested conclusion:

Answer 26

In conclusion, empires have existed in many periods of human history. The starting point for the fall of an empires fall is the failure of the financial system.

In turn, this causes military weakness, and allows uprisings to be successful.

These three factors have been present in the fall of many empires