Notes

What is an Empire- At one level, empires are simply states, political systems that exercise coercive power. The term, however, is normally reserved for larger and more aggressive states, which conquer, rule, and extract resources from other states and peoples. Empires are often associated with political or cultural oppression.

Oppression - Prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or control.

Why Empires May Have Been So Fascinating to Modern and Ancient Peoples -
-Because they were so big, creating a looming presence in their respective regions.
-Their armies and tax collectors were difficult to avoid.
-Because they were so violent in their conquest. All of these ancient empires cost a lot of human life.

Common Features of Empires -
-Many of these empires share common problems such as:
-Would they seek to impose the culture of imperial rule upon their citizens?
-Would they rule their conquered subjects directly or through established local authorities?
-How could they extract the wealth of an empire in the form of taxes, tribute, and labor while maintaining order in
conquered territories?

-They were so violent in their conquest. All of these ancient empires cost a lot of human life.
-They were so big, creating a looming presence in their respective regions.
-Their armies and tax collectors were difficult to avoid.
-No matter how impressive they were during their peak, they all sooner or later collapsed.
-They all brought together people of quite different traditions and religions and so stimulated the exchange of ideas, culture, and values.