Rise and Fall of an Empire

Paper Summary:

Just as historians wonder why a society comes to dominate a particular region of the world, they also wonder why that same society declines in its influence and power. The paper shows that over the course of the historical period from 3500 to 1000 BCE, the kingdoms of Mesopotamia, Egypt, India and China, all of which had exerted the most notable influence upon the Middle Eastern and Asian continents that these nations dominated, began to experience a period of decline. The paper shows that although the agricultural and political policies and influences of these societies continued to be felt by further historical generations, the societies themselves fell into disrepair.

From the Paper:

"The level of absolute power wielded by such monarchs resulted in a society that was entirely dependent upon inequality for its justification, a system that still remains to a certain extent in notions of "caste" in India. (McKay et. al 62-67) This authority, to administrate its power, relied upon systems of administration and class stratification that were as complex as they eventually proved to be fragile. At first, this was beneficial to the populace to some extent. Many archaeologists have theorized that these states emerged as powerful as they did, as early as they did in the course of human history, because they could organize the existing food supplies increased through hierarchical agricultural networks of human beings. The physical structure of ancient Egypt's system of irrigation remains impressive today, although it was based upon enslaved labor. (McKay et. al 34)"

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