FIRST AGE OF EMPIRES

1570 BC-200 BC

WHAT GROUP INVADED EGYPT? Asiatic invaders, called Hyksos Followed the Middle Kingdom and ruled

from about 1640 to 1570 BC. During this time, the Hebrews also

settled in EgyptMany believed they were invited by the

Hyksos, because they were ethnically similar

Eventually, the Pharaoh’s regained their power and expelled the Hyksos from EgyptHebrews remained, but were enslaved

WHEN WAS THE NEW KINGDOM? Followed the reign

of the Hyksos 1570-1075 BC Pharaohs sought

to strengthen Egypt by building an empire

Wealthier and more powerful than ever before

WHO WERE THE POWERFUL PHARAOH’S OF THE NEW KINGDOM?

Hatshepsut Declared herself pharaoh, because her stepson was

too young at the time Encouraged trade, rather than waging war

Thutmose III Hatshepsut’s stepson (may have murdered her to

assume leadership) Much more warlike ruler Made Egypt a mighty empire

Ramses II Made peace treaty with Hittites that lasted a century Great builder of the New Kingdom

WHY DID THE EMPIRE DECLINE? Other strong

civilizations challenged Egypt’s power

Attacked by land and sea

Never recovered its previous power

Broke into numerous small Kingdoms

HOW DID THE KUSHITES CONQUER EGYPT? Had prior contact with Egypt during the

New Kingdom Had adopted many Egyptian customs

and beliefs As the New Kingdom declined, the

Kushites felt they could guard Egyptian values

Their rule was short-lived, as Egypt soon fell to the Assyrians, warlike people from Southwest Asia

WHO WERE THE ASSYRIANS? Came from the

northern part of Mesopotamia

Easy for others to attack because land was flat and open

Developed warlike behavior in response to those actions

HOW DID ASSYRIA GAIN A POWERFUL EMPIRE? Highly advanced military organization

Very disciplinedShowed no mercy to those they conquered

State-of-the-art weaponryUsed ironSoldiers covered themselves in stiff leather

and metal armor Engineers designed floating structures

used to support bridges during warfare Dug beneath city walls to weaken

defenses

HOW DID THE ASSYRIAN EMPIRE EXPAND? Conquered many

lands Their system of

management involved local governors reporting to a central authority

Additional military campaigns brought taxes and tribute to the treasury

HOW DID THE EMPIRE CRUMBLE? 612 BC Combined army of

Medes and Chaldeans burned and leveled the capital of Nineveh

Babylon then became the capital, under Chaldean rule Nebuchadnezzar

restored the city

WHERE WAS THE PERSIAN HOMELAND? Migrated from Central Europe and

southern Russia to the mountains and plateaus east of the Fertile Crescent

Fertile farmland and a wealth of mineralsCopper, lead, gold, silverTraded minerals and came into contact with

neighbors to east and west At first there were many kingdoms, but

two powers emergedThe Medes and the PersiansSoon, the Persians dominated the Medes

PERSIAN RULED After Cyrus died, his son Cambyses was

named ruler Conquered Egypt and expanded the rule of

the Persian Empire He was not as tolerant as his father and

rebellion broke out across the Empire Cambyses’s successor, Darius, seized the

throne and spent three years trying to end revolts

Eventually brought peace and stability to empire and began conquest

Was very successful in expanding empire.

WHAT WERE PROVINCES AND SATRAPS? Conceived by Darius Provinces

20 in the Persian empireSimilar to the homelands of different groups

of people who lived under empireSpoke own language, practiced own

religion, followed many of own laws Satraps

Governor of provinces

WHO WAS CYRUS THE GREAT? King of Persia Conquered several

neighboring kingdoms

Military genius Very kind and

tolerant towards conquered people Believed in honoring

customs and traditions of people that he conquered

WHAT PROMOTED TRADE IN THE EMPIRE?

Excellent systems of roadsAllowed quick

communication Metal coins

Standard valueCirculated

throughout empire

CONFUCIUS AND THE SOCIAL ORDER Confucius was

China’s most influential scholar

Lived when Zhou dynasty was in decline

Wanted to restore order and moral living in China

FIVE BASIC RELATIONSHIPS Confucius believed

that government could be restored if five basic relationships were formed Ruler and subject Father and son Husband and wife Older and younger

brother Friend and friend

FILIAL PIETYRespect for parents and ancestors,

in life and after death

WHAT WERE THE CONFUCIAN IDEAS ABOUT GOVERNMENT? Thought that

education could transform individuals

Laid the groundwork for the foundation of a bureaucracy, a trained civil service, who would run the government

WHAT WERE THE OTHER CHINESE ETHICAL SYSTEMS? Daoism

Chinese thinker named Laozi

Natural order was important

Universal force called Dao guided all things

Legalism Highly efficient and

powerful government key to restoring order

Us law and civil order Believed in very harsh

punishment for those that violated the law

I Ching Book of oracles who

solved ethical problems

Yin and Yang Represented natural

rythms in life Yin: Cold, dark, soft,

mysterious Yang: Warm, bright,

hard, clear Symbol represents

harmony of Yin and Yang

HOW DID THE QIN DYNASTY UNIFY CHINA? Employed legalist ideas Qin ruler assumed the name Shi

Huangdi, which means “First Emperor” Halted internal battles, defeated

invaders, crushed resistance to his rule Doubled China’s size Established an autocracy by murdering

Confucian scholars and burning “useless” books

WHAT CHANGES DID SHI HUANGDI BRING TO CHINA? Highway network Standards in writing, law, currency and

weight Irrigation projects that increased farm

production Built Great Wall of China (defensive wall)

Constructed by peasantsHad to work for free, or were put to death

WHAT HAPPENED TO

THE QIN DYNASTY?

Lasted a short time

Shi Huangdi’s son was not a powerful leader

Peasants soon rebelled and the Han Dynasty came to power.