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First Age of Empires,1570 B.C.–200 B.C.

The first large empires develop in Africa and Asia between 1570 B.C. and 200 B.C.

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First Age of Empires,1570 B.C.–200 B.C.

SECTION 1

SECTION 2

SECTION 3

SECTION 4

The Egyptians and Nubian Empires

The Assyrian Empires

The Persian Empire

The Unification of China

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Section 1

The Egyptian and Nubian EmpiresTwo empires along the Nile, Egypt and Nubia, forge commercial, cultural, and political connections.

The new pharaoh established their capital at the strategic site of Memphis, just south of the delta, and over the next several centuries consolidated their rule. Probably no other dynasty in history has been so successful in creating an effective yet apparently timeless form of government. For thousands of years Egyptian pharaohs were able to convey to their subjects a sense of permanence and eternity while constantly adjusting the system to meet new needs. (Nagle, 23)

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Nomadic Invaders Rule Egypt

The Egyptian and Nubian Empires

Invaders• About 1640 B.C., Asian warriors, the Hyksos, use

chariots to conquer Egypt

Hebrews Migrate to Egypt• Hebrews move to Egypt from Canaan around 1650 B.C.• Egyptians resent the presence of Hebrews and Hyksos

in Egypt

Expulsion and Slavery• Egyptians drive out the hated Hyksos• Hebrews lose protection of Hyksos; are enslaved

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The Hyksos were the source of the new horse-drawn war-chariots introduced to Egypt in the second half of the Hyksos rule. This invention, never seen before in Egypt, was instrumental in the continued power of the Hyksos in this region. The Hyksos utilized superior bronze weapons, chariots, and composite bows to help them take control of Egypt, and by about 1720 BC they had grown strong enough, at the expense of the Middle Kingdom kings, to gain control of Avaris in the north eastern Delta. This site eventually became the capital of the Hyksos kings, yet within 50 years they had also managed to take control of the important Egyptian city of Memphis.

Ahmose and his army driving out the Hyksos.

Starting in 1567 B.C., the pharaoh Ahmose I eventually managed to defeat and expel the Hyksos from Egypt, reuniting Egypt and establishing the New Kingdom (c. 1567-1085 B.C.). The New Kingdom was characterized by a new militaristic and imperialistic path. A more professional army was developed.

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The New Kingdom of Egypt

Continued . . .

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Technological Changes• About 1570 to 1075 B.C. pharaohs create New

Kingdom, a powerful empire• Army uses bronze weapons and chariots to

conquer other lands

Hatshepsut’s Prosperous Rule• Hatshepsut—pharaoh whose reign most noted

for her trade expeditions, not war

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continued The New Kingdom of Egypt

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Thutmose the Empire Builder• Thutmose III, Hatshepsut’s stepson, expands Egypt’s

empire• Invades Palestine, Syria, and Nubia—region around

the upper Nile River• Egypt most powerful and wealthy during reign of New

Kingdom pharaohs

Continued . . .

Pharaohs

Tutankhamun (King Tut) 1334 and 1325 BC

Ramesses II 1279-1213 BC

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The Egyptians and the Hittites• Around 1285 B.C. Egyptians battle the Hittites

in Palestine• Egypt’s pharaoh, Ramses II, and the Hittite king

sign a peace treaty

continued The New Kingdom of Egypt

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An Age of Builders• New Kingdom pharaohs built great palaces,

magnificent temples• Valley of the Kings near Thebes is home to royal

tombs• Ramses II builds impressive temples with

enormous statues of himself

Art and Writing

Art and Writing• Pyramids

– Symbols of the pharaoh’s authority and divine stature; royal tombs

– Pyramid of Khufu involved the precise cutting and fitting of 2,300,000 limestone blocks with an average weight of 2.5 tons

– Estimated construction of the Khufu pyramid required 84,000 laborers working 80 days per year for 20 years

The Sphinx and Great Pyramid of Khufu at

Giza. 

Art and Writing• Hieroglyphs

– Pictures that were used to write the ancient Egyptian language

– Originally used to keep records of the king’s possessions. Scribes could easily make these records by drawing a picture of a cow or a boat followed by a number.

• As the language became more complex, more pictures were needed. Eventually the language consisted of more than 750 individual signs.

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The Empire Declines

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Invasion by Land and Sea• “Sea Peoples” (possibly Philistines) cause great

destruction in Egypt• Libyan raids on villages and Palestine rebellions

weaken empire

Egypt’s Empire Fades• Weakened empire breaks into smaller kingdoms• From around 950 to 730 B.C. Libyan pharaohs

rule Egypt, erect cities

Invasion of the Invasion of the ““Sea PeoplesSea Peoples”” around 1200 B.C. around 1200 B.C.

Egyptian Drawings of Two Different Tribes of Sea People

The days of Egyptian empire were ended, and the New Kingdom expired with the end of the twentieth dynasty in 1085 B.C. For the next thousand years, despite periodic revivals of strength, Egypt was dominated by Libyans, Nubians, Persians, and Macedonians.

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The Kushites Conquer the Nile Region

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Egypt and Kush• From 2000 to 1000 B.C., Egypt dominates

kingdom of Kush in Nubia

The People of Nubia• Live south of Egypt near division of Blue Nile and

White Nile• Nile River is a great trade route for goods and

ideas• Nubians link Egypt and Mediterranean to African

interior through trade

Continued . . .

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The Interaction of Egypt and Nubia• Egyptian culture influences Nubia and beyond to

southern Africa• About 1200 B.C., Nubia gains independence but

keeps Egyptian culture

continued The Kushites Conquer the Nile Region

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Piankhi Captures the Egyptian Throne• In 751 B.C., Kushite king Piankhi conquers

Egypt, ousts Libyans• Assyrians overcome Kushites and take Egypt

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The Golden Age of Meroë

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Meroë• Kushites settle Meroë; join in trade with Africa,

Arabia, India

The Wealth of Kush• Meroë becomes important center for iron

weapons and tools• Iron products transported to Red Sea, exchanged

for luxury goods

The Decline of Meroë• Meroë thrives from about 250 B.C. to A.D. 150,

then declines• Aksum, 400 miles southeast, dominates North

African trade• Has port on Red Sea, defeats Meroë in A.D. 350

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Assyria develops a military machine and establishes a well-organized administration.

Section 2

The Assyrian Empire

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A Mighty Military Machine

The Assyrian Empire

Assyria• Assyria uses military might to acquire empire across

Southwest Asia

The Rise of a Warrior People• After invasions in Mesopotamia, Assyrians develop

warlike behavior• Assyrian king Sennacherib brutally destroys enemies

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Military Organization and Conquest• Glorified armies wear metal armor, copper helmets,

leather protection• Use iron weapons, engineering skill, and brute force

to conquer cities• Kill, enslave, or banish captive peoples to distant lands

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The Empire Expands

Kings of Assyria• Defeat Syria, Palestine, Babylonia between 850

and 650 B.C.

Assyrian Rule• Creates central authority over local governors of

dependent regions• Collects taxes and tribute from conquered lands

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Assyrian Culture• Rulers build great cities, including capital at Nineveh• Carved sculptures of military campaigns and the

lion hunt• King Ashurbanipal builds library of 20,000

tablets; Epic of Gilgamesh

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Rebirth of Babylon Under the Chaldeans

Early Warnings• Empire spread thin, cruelty earns many enemies,

Ashurbanipal dies

Decline and Fall• Army of Medes and Chaldeans destroys

Nineveh (612 B.C.); library survives

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Rebirth of Babylon Under the Chaldeans• Chaldeans make Babylon capital of own empire• King Nebuchadnezzar builds legendary hanging

gardens of Babylon• Builds tall ziggurats; astronomers make discoveries about solar system• Chaldean Empire falls to Persians; they adopt

Assyrian inventions

Section 3

The Persian EmpireBy governing with tolerance and wisdom, the Persians establish a well-ordered empire that lasts for 200 years.

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The Rise of Persia

The Persian Empire

The Persian Homeland• Persia (ancient Iran) has fertile land and minerals• Medes and Persians rose to power there

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Cyrus the Great Founds an Empire• Starting in 550 B.C., Persian king Cyrus conquers

neighboring lands• Governs with tolerance toward conquered peoples • Honors local customs, including religious ones• Allows Jews to return to Israel to rebuild temple of

Jerusalem

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Persian Rule

Cambyses and Darius• Cyrus’s son, Cambyses, conquers Egypt but

rules unwisely• Darius seizes control, establishes stability;

expands empire to India

Provinces and Satraps• Darius divides empire into 20 areas of local

administration• Appoints satraps—governors—to rule each area• Build Royal Road to make communication within

empire easier• Issues coins that can be used throughout the empire

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The Persian Legacy

Zoroaster• Persian thinker called Zoroaster develops new

religion

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Zoroaster’s Teachings• Life is a battleground between good and evil• One god will judge us by how well we fight for good• Zoroastrianism influenced Judaism, Christianity, and

Islam

Political Order• Through tolerance and good government, Persians

bring political order• Preserve earlier cultures, find new ways to live and

rule

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Section 4

The Unification of ChinaThe social disorder of the warring states contributes to the development of three Chinese ethical systems.

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Confucius and the Social Order

The Unification of China

Zhou Dynasty• Lasted 1027 to 256 B.C.; ancient values decline near

end of dynasty

Confucius Urges Harmony• End of Zhou Dynasty is time of disorder• Scholar Confucius wants to restore order,

harmony, good government• Stresses developing good relationships, including

family• Promotes filial piety—respect for parents and

ancestors• Hopes to reform society by promoting good

government

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Continued . . .

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Confucian Ideas About Government• Thinks education can transform people• Teachings become foundation for bureaucracy,

a trained civil service• Confucianism is an ethical system of right and

wrong, not a religion• Chinese government and social order is based on

Confucianism

continued Confucius and the Social Order

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Other Ethical Systems

Daoists Seek Harmony• Laozi teaches that people should follow the

natural order of life• Believes that universal force called Dao guides

all things• Daoism philosophy is to understand nature and

be free of desire• Daoists influence sciences, alchemy, astronomy,

medicine

Legalists Urge Harsh Rule• Legalism emphasizes the use of law to restore

order; stifles criticism• Teaches that obedience should be rewarded,

disobedience punished

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Continued . . .

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I Ching and Yin and Yang• I Ching (The Book of Changes) offers good advice,

common sense• Concept of yin and yang—two powers represent

rhythm of universe• Yin: cold, dark, soft, mysterious; yang: warm, bright,

hard, clear• I Ching and yin and yang explain how people fit into

the world

continued Other Ethical Systems

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The Qin Dynasty Unifies China

The Qin Dynasty• Qin Dynasty replaces Zhou Dynasty in third

century B.C.

A New Emperor Takes Control• Emperor Shi Huangdi unifies China, ends fighting,

conquers new lands• Creates 36 administrative districts controlled by Qin

officials• With legalist prime minister, murders Confucian scholars, burns books• Establishes an autocracy, a government with

unlimited power

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Continued . . .

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A Program of Centralization• Shi Huangdi builds highways, irrigation projects;

increases trade• Sets standards for writing, law, currency, weights and

measures• Harsh rule includes high taxes and repressive

government

continued The Qin Dynasty Unifies China

Great Wall of China• Emperor forces peasants to build Great Wall to keep

out invaders

The Fall of the Qin • Shi Huangdi’s son loses the throne to rebel leader;

Han Dynasty begins

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