2. People and Empires
Notable Rulers
• Alexander the Great
– Established one of the first great European empires (336-323 BC)
– Inherited father’s throne after death
– Conquered and dominated Persian empire
• Contantine the Great
– Ruler of the Holy Roman Empire
– United eastern and western European regions
– Established Christianity as the primary religion all over the land
3. Notable Rulers (Cont.)
• Julius Caesar
– Emperor of Rome
– Military leader and conqueror
– Abolished Roman Republic
• Napoleon Bonaparte
– Established himself as emperor
– Crumbled French republic, and under his rule, established the new rule as a
military dictatorship
– Issued new legal “Napoleonic Code”
– Changed administration and educational systems in France
4. How to build and establish
a strong empire.
• In order to establish an empire, one civilization must utilize warfare to conquer over
other.
• The perfect example in American history includes the Spanish Conquistador, Hernan
Cortez, who, with supreme military power, dominated over the Aztecs.
• Trade is also beneficial in keeping a strong empire.
– Walter Ralegh, and English adventurer and writer sates, “whosoever commands the sea, commands the
trade, whosoever trade of the world, commands the riches of the world, and consequently the world itself.
(Pagden 86-87)
• Trading overseas established economic dominance
– Slaves, agricultural products, animals, riches, , spices gold, etc.
5. The Origins and Nature of
New World Slavery
• Old Slavery
– Slavery existed back even before history was recorded
– Slaves were used for other jobs other than for plantation farming
• Canibalism
• Human sacrifices
• Barter uses.
– Slaves received very poor treatment. Masters and slave owner would often times
subject slaves to torture and beatings.
– Slaves were usually foreign and, as a result, did not speak the same language as
natives
6. Slavery (cont.)
• Farm owners later found slaves as a source for free and efficient
labor.
• At first, African slaves were not a part of colonizing America, but
trade routes along the Atlantic ocean would bring African American
slaves over for better crop production.
• From the American Revolution to the 1820s, there were many
pushes to liberate slaves. Abraham Lincoln would later succeed.
• In the same century (1807 & 1888), Britain and Brazil would abolish
it’s slave trading business.
7. Guns, Germs, and Steel
• Author argues that civilization is a combination of taking advantage
of opportunity when it arises with already previously set historical
conditions.
• To expand, Europeans sought for better trade opportunities. This
resulted in voyages across the Atlantic Ocean, to the Americas.
• Better technology, and a weakened native civilization lead to the
Europeans conquering the Americas with little difficulty.
8. Guns, Germs, and Steel
• Despite being outnumbered, the Natives were easily conquered due
to technological advances in weaponry in the hands of the
conquerors.
• While traders and explorers brought goods, they also brought along
diseases. Because the Natives’ immune system was unfamilar with
these new diseases, most of the population was wiped out, as a
result, the Europeans had an easier time conquering them
• The biggest disease to have impacted the Americas was smallpox.
9. Native Americans v. Europeans
• Native Americans
– Main food source
• Corn
• Difficult to plant
• Less nutritious
– Bone and stone technology
– Undeveloped immune
system
• Europeans
– Main food source
• Bread (wheat/barley)
• Easy to farm
• Provides more nutrients
– Steel technology
• Guns
• Swords
• Plated armor & helmets
– Immune systems better
against most diseases.
– Horses
10. Native Americans v. Europeans
• Native Americans
– Main food source
• Corn
• Difficult to plant
• Less nutritious
– Bone and stone technology
– Undeveloped immune
system
• Europeans
– Main food source
• Bread (wheat/barley)
• Easy to farm
• Provides more nutrients
– Steel technology
• Guns
• Swords
• Plated armor & helmets
– Immune systems better
against most diseases.
– Horses
