Deck 3: E: State and Empire in Eurasianorth Africa 500 B.C.E-500 C.E

Question 1

Personal Reflection: Which of the classical empires do you view as most successful? Why?

Answer 1

•Size
•Durability
•Systems of governance
•Cultural achievements

Question 2

Historical Analysis: Can the Hellenistic world be regarded as an empire in cultural terms, even though it wasn't a single political state?

Answer 2

•Identification of the features that define an empire.
•Discussion of the importance of political unity to the definition of empire.
•Examination of the relative cultural continuity of the Hellenistic world and its significance.
A really strong essay might also include an element of comparison to other classical empires-or to modern America's cultural imperialism.

Question 3

Comparative Analysis: How significant was the legacy of fifth-century B.C.E. Greece to the Hellenistic kingdoms?

Answer 3

•The Greek sense of Western cultural superiority fostered by the Greco-Persian Wars.
•Hellenistic rulers like Alexander spread Greek culture and learning in the many cities they established throughout their empires.
•The failure of Athenian democracy and its replacement with absolute monarchies-with some discussion of both phenomena.
A very good answer might note that the term "Hellenistic" means "Greek" and that the Hellenistic states were defined by their "Greekness," despite the fact that the vast majority of the populations of the Hellenistic kingdoms were not Greek.

Question 4

Comparative Analysis: What features do all classical empires share?

Question 5

Comparative Analysis: What is the difference between the states formed by the First Civilizations and the empires formed between 500 B.C.E. and 500 C.E.?