SOC SCI (4TH QUARTER) THE DEVELOPMENT, DYNAMICS, AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF VARIOUS EMPIRES
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD
The Macedonian and the Roman Empires Two
empires developed in EUROPE during this
period (AFROEURASIA).
These were the MACEDONIAN EMPIRE
(338- 263 BCE) and the ROMAN EMPIRE
(132 BCE-476 CE).
- These two empires were established by
leaders who were known for their
military skills which enabled them to
subdue oppositions to their rule and
conquer many territories.
Alexander the Great led the expansion of
the Macedonian Empire from Greece to
parts of western Asia and India and to
northern Africa.
Octavian or Augustus
- nephew of Julius Caesar
- recognized as the first emperor of the
Roman Empire
- established the frontiers of the empire
and inaugurated a new system of
governing the Roman provinces where
half of them were in his direct control.
The Roman Empire expanded outside the
region of Italy and covered territories in
WESTERN ASIA, NORTHERN AFRICA,
and the GAUL REGION IN WESTERN
EUROPE. The expansion of these empires
to other regions of the world facilitated
cultural exchange, the process where
goods, products, and ideas spread across
various cultures. This process (expansion
related) resulted in increased collective
learning among people which then led to
more inventions and innovations.
For example:
Macedonian Empire ushered the
Hellenistic era where Greek and
Macedonian culture spread throughout the
territories conquered by Alexander the
Great.
HELLENISTIC ERA:
- was characterized by the fusion of four
cultures: Greek and Macedonian,
Egyptian, Indian, and Persian.
- This era was known as the Golden Age
of Science with Archimedes invention
and discovery of geometry of spheres
and cylinders, value of pi, and
Archimedean screw.
- during this era when Stoicism and
Epicureanism developed as
philosophies.
The establishment of Alexandria in Egypt
as a learning center helped preserve these
cultural achievements.
Romans managed to govern its vast
territories which measured 3.5 million miles
at its peak by constructing networks of
roads.
They built a 50,000 miles network of paved
roads, tracks, and trails which connected the
different parts of the empire. The building
of these networks of roads also encouraged
trade and cultural exchange among various
people and civilizations.
The era from Augustus to the Five Good
Emperors namely:
Nerva
Trajan
Hadrian
Antoninus
Pius
Marcus Aurelius was also known as Pax
Romana or Roman Peace.
- This was the time when the Roman
Empire enjoyed considerable prosperity
and internal peace.
- These emperors were popular for their
tolerance and diplomacy and for their
support to beneficial domestic policies
like providing scholarship to poor
students and providing jobs to people
through public works.
 The Roman Empire passed on the
following legacies to us:
- the Roman law particularly the legal
principle where person was regarded
as innocent until proven otherwise and
the right of the accused to defend
himself before the judge;
- the Roman art characterized by intense
realism and curvilinear forms, arch,
vault, and dome;
- and the Roman literature like the story
of Aeneid.
THE EMPIRES IN SOUTHWEST ASIA:
- Achaemenid or Persian Empire (550-
350 BCE)
- Parthian Empire (247 BCE-224 CE)
- Sassanid Empire (228 CE-651 CE),
and
- Arab-Islamic Empire (600-1000 CE).
(West Asia) This region was also
conquered by the Macedonian Empire and
Roman Empire as these empires expanded
their territories from Greece and Italy
respectively.
PERSIAN EMPIRE:
 Persian Empire was initially famous
for its tolerance of the local customs
of the people they conquered.
For example: during the era of Cyrus the Great,
the Jews were allowed to practice their own
religion and respect their traditions as long as
they recognize the authority of the emperor.
However, this policy of tolerance ended during
the time of Xerxes who was notorious for
being a tyrant and despot.
 Persian Empire, like the Roman
Empire was also known for building
roads to help in governing their
expansive territories and facilitate
easier communication and
transportation within the empire.
 built the Royal Road which has 111
stations that connected Sardis and
Susa. This road helped in unifying
the empire.
THE INTRODUCTION OF LOCAL
GOVERNANCE THROUGH INSTITUTING
SATRAPS OR LOCAL GOVERNORS IN
VARIOUS THAT HELPED THE PERSIAN
EMPIRE IN GOVERNING ITS TERRITORIES
PROVINCES/DISTRICTS OF THE EMPIRE.
 These local rulers helped the emperor to
effectively exercise his authority as a
ruler.
 The Persian Empire adopted
ZOROASTRIANISM as its
unifying religion and ideology.
PARTHIAN EMPIRE:
The Parthian Empire was the competitor of the
Byzantine Empire over the territories in
Southwest Asia. It initially controlled Armenia,
an important stopover of caravan traders. The
Parthians lost against the Romans during the
rule of Marcus Aurelius.
SASSANID EMPIRE:
The SASSANID EMPIRE was known as the
second Persian Empire and was established by
ARDASHIR I. During this period, the
Zoroastrian church was given special privileges.
It weakened as Muslims became powerful in
Southwest Asia.
ARAB-ISLAMIC EMPIRE:
The Arab-Islamic Empire consisted of
succession of different caliphates. These
caliphates were:
- the Umayyads (660-750 CE)
- the Umayyads of al-Andalus (Spain)
(756-976 CE)
- the Fatimids (901-1171 CE), and
- the Abbasid Caliphate (750-1258 CE).
CONTRIBUTIONS OF THESE EMPIRES:
1) the spread of Islam not only in
Southwest Asia but also in northern Africa
and Europe; 2) the advancement of
medicine particularly the study on smallpox
and measles;
3) the invention of materials for the study
of astronomy such as the astrolabe,
armillary sphere, and accurate lunar
calendar;
4) the promotion of Islamic art like
calligraphy, geometric designs, and
arabesque decoration; and
5) the innovations in mathematics and
science like the invention of algebra and
scientific experimentation.
- They also contributed in the development
of philosophy and the preservation of
 Western knowledge which would be
important during the Renaissance period.
THE EMPIRES IN SOUTH ASIA
- the Mauryan Empire (321-185 BCE)
- the Kushan Empire (185 BCE-320 CE)
- the Gupta Empire (320-540 CE) and
- the Pushyabhuti and the Chola
Dynasty (700-1175 CE).
MAURYAN EMPIRE:
- The Mauryan Empire was the first
empire in INDIA and established by
CHANDRAGUPTA MAURYA.
- It had an effective government but also
a harsh one. It had well-organized
bureaucracy, effective tax collection,
and state-owned factories and
shipyards. However, this empire also
had a-brutal-and-efficient-secret-
police.
- Chandragupta Maurya was succeeded
by his grandson Ashoka who adopted
Buddhism as the state ideology of the
empire.
KUSHAN EMPIRE:
- The Mauryan Empire was replaced by
the Kushans who were foreign
invaders from Central Asia.
- Unlike the Mauryan, the Kushans only
ruled the northern part of India. The
southern part was divided into different
kingdoms of Chola, Kerala and
Pandya.
- During this time, Mahayana Buddhism
developed in India. This empire was
succeeded by the GUPTA EMPIRE.
GUPTA EMPIRE:
- The Gupta Empire was considered the
Golden Age of India.
- was established by Chandragupta 1.
- During this time, there was economic
prosperity and peace, a strong
centralized government, and cultural
developments and advancements in
learning.
The economic prosperity was
brought by the establishment of textile
industries, the formation of merchant
guilds, and the use of coins.
- In terms of cultural advancements, this
era was characterized by the
crystallization of Hinduism where
major beliefs of this religion were
established, the development of Indian
literature like Kalidasa’s Shakuntala
and Panchatantra, and the construction
of magnificent stone temples and
stupas.
PUSHYABHUTI AND THE CHOLA DYNASTY.
- The Gupta Empire was replaced by the
Pushyabhuti and the Chola Dynasty.
These were the last local dynasties
before the conquest of Muslims
and
the establishment of the Delhi
Sultanate and the Mughal
Empire.
EMPIRES IN EAST ASIA
Different dynasties and empires also
rose and fell in East Asia. These
empires were the:
- Qin Empire (221-206 BCE)
- Han Empire (206 BCE-222 CE)
- Sui Empire (589-618 CE)
- Tang Empire (618- 907 CE), and
- Song Empire (907-1278 CE).
QIN EMPIRE:
- The Qin Empire unified China after the
warring period in the late Zhou dynasty.
- Shi Huang Di was considered as the
first emperor.
He established a strong,
authoritarian
government.
He strengthened the
transportation system and
standardized weights.
He also centralized his power with
his
legalist advisers, approved the
ruthless campaigns of book burning,
and jailed, tortured, killed opponents
and critics particularly Confucian
scholars.
He adopted Legalism as state
ideology.
- Due to its strict rule, the Qin Empire
fell by 206 BCE.
HAN EMPIRE:
- The Han Empire replaced the Qin.
 - It was founded by Liu Bang.
- The empire’s territory expanded to
Manchuria, Korea, north of India and
parts of Southeast Asia during the
reign of Wu Di.
- Confucianism was the state ideology
adopted by the Han Empire.
- it was during this time that the first
civil service exam was instituted and
advancements in technology like the
invention of paper, medicine, art, and
writing of history was made.
- The Han Empire also constructed the
Silk Road which was an important
trading route that connected China to
other parts of Asia.
- Buddhism also arrived from India
during this time.
- The Han Empire fell due to rebellions
and China was divided into three
kingdoms.
SUI EMPIRE:
- was established by Yang Jian.
- reunified China after the three-
kingdom period.
- During this empire, the Grand Canal
was constructed. It also rebuilt the
Great Wall of China.
- Sui Empire was an authoritarian
empire like the Qin. It suppressed
followers of Buddhism which led to
rebellions.
It was later succeeded by the Tang Empire.
TANG EMPIRE:
- The Tang Empire was founded by Li
Yuan.
- expanded its territories to the south of
China. Its influence also reached Japan
and Korea. Commerce advanced to
Indian Ocean.
- The state examination for bureaucrats
was also reinstituted at this time.
- There were many cultural
developments in the Tang Empire such
as the development of poetry,
calligraphy, and landscape painting.
- There were advancements of learning
as seen in the fields of philosophy,
political thought, historical writing,
astronomy, chemistry, and medicine.
- Buddhism also blossomed during this
period.
- The Tang dynasty fell due to nomadic
invasions, rebellions, and official
corruption.
It was replaced by the Song Empire.
SONG EMPIRE:
- The Song Empire was established by
Zhao Kuanying.
- The empire primarily struggled against
the nomadic invasions from the
northern region of China.
- During this era, traditional aristocracy
weakened as government positions
were made available to those who
passed the civil service exam.
- economic base also began to expand as
more crops were produced for food
production. However, the government
became even more autocratic as threats
of nomadic invasions increased.
- In terms of cultural practices, foot
binding of women was instituted during
this era.
- Neo-Confucianism, a philosophy that
synthesized Daoism, Buddhism, and
Confucianism also developed at this
time.
By 1278 CE, the Song Empire would be
succeeded by the first foreign empire in China,
the Yuan Empire which was part of the larger
Mongol Empire.
THE EMPIRES IN AFRICA:
Two empires developed in Africa during this
period of empire building. These were the
- Axum Empire (100 c. BCE to 950 CE)
and
- Ghana Empire (c.800 CE-1070 CE).
Axum Empire:
- was located in present-day Ethiopia,
Eritrea and parts of Sudan.
- It reached its height during the fourth to
sixth centuries where its influence was
extended to the southern part of the
Arabian Peninsula.
- The Axum Empire was a trading empire
and its most important port was Adulis
which provided safe harbor for ships
trading with Southeast Asia.
- The empire developed its own gold
and silver coins, language, and even
unique form of Christian church.
- Axum’s power started to diminish by
the sixth century when the Persian
Empire interrupted its trade in the
southern part of Arabian Peninsula and
the Muslims started to control the trade
in the coast of the Red Sea.
GHANA EMPIRE:
- emerged in Africa in the eight Century.
- It was located in some parts of present-
day Mauritania and Mali.
- possessed productive agricultural lands
which supported labor specialization
and city development.
- had a centralized administration led by
a king.
- The Ghana Empire was a trading
empire which maximized the region’s
complex river systems to facilitate
trade with their neighboring kingdoms.
- Gold was essential to support the
empire.
- Its rulers built strong armies,
conquered additional territories, and
collected tributes.
- Its capital is called Koumbi Saleh. This
city exhibited the influence of Islam in
the empire. However, this influence
was limited only to the market towns
of the city.
- Other sites of the empire like the royal
palace of the Ghanian king showed no
Muslim influence. For some historians,
this meant that the ordinary people and
their leaders did not convert to Islam.
- By the eleventh century, the Ghana
Empire began to weaken as a result of
invasions from the Muslims
Almoravids of north Africa, internal
rebellions, and overgrazing of their
lands.