Abstract
This paper presents a detailed discussion about the various causes of the rise and fall of empires in ancient times. The writer focuses the discussion on the rise and fall of Rome as well as other ancient civilizations that have been witnessed. The writer explains the importance of understanding the history of these ancient civilizations in order to learn from the mistakes.

From the Paper
"Historians have often pondered the rise and fall of ancient civilizations around the world. Heated debates about what factors contributed to their rise and their decline and fall have taken place in many settings. The ancient civilizations have been studied for several reasons. They can point mankind in the direction of what not to do in the future and they can provide mankind with a blueprint for success as long as the mistakes are avoided. The factors that contributed to the rise and fall of ancient civilizations are numerous but the main focus was on politics, and the desire and abuse of power."

Tags:history, roman, civilization, politics, religion, military

Abstract
This paper introduces, discusses, and analyzes the book "Colossus: The Rise and Fall of the American Empire," by Niall Ferguson. Specifically, the writer discusses whether she agrees with the following statement at the end of Ferguson's book: 'I believe the world needs an effective liberal empire and that the United States is the best candidate for the job'. The writer maintains that Ferguson's arguments for U.S. imperialism are the backbone of his book, and he makes some compelling and well thought out arguments for his thesis.

From the Paper
"Under this definition, the United States could certainly be considered an empire, since we have had imperialistic relations with the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Korea, Vietnam, and now Iraq. In all of these conquests or skirmishes, the country has been fighting for "democracy" and freedom, whether the people wanted it or not. Indeed, the author mentions more recent aggressions, such as the toppling of the Soviet Union (which America had at least some small part in), along with the regimes of Slobodan Milosevic, the Taliban and Saddam Hussein, as an example of American might overseas."

Tags:imperial, power, past, global, empire, current, economic, crisis

Abstract
An outline of the early medieval period, which saw the rise of new kingdoms in Western Europe. The paper discusses the rise and development of the Carolingian Empire. It also provides special attention to the economic and social structure that came from the collapsed Roman Empire and the Barbarian kingdoms.

From the Paper
"In the pre-Christian era, the German tribes migrated from the northern Europe to the Roman Empire and occupied the northern lands. There were clashes between the German tribes and the Romans who considered them intruders into their lands and called them "barbarians". The collapse of the Roman Empire enabled the German tribes to explore the Western Roman Empire. There were three basic factions of these German tribes-Germanic Lombards who settled in northern and central Italy, Anglo-Saxons in Britain, And Franks in Gaul (France). The Frankish kingdoms later became one of the new western European civilizations."

Tags:roman, western, middle, ages, empire, social, economic, barbarian

Abstract
Impact of Kings of rise and fall of Sassanian Empire. Analysis of this wealthy and influential period of Mesopotamian history. Centers on rule of Chosroe I (531-579 A.D.). Centralizatioin of power. Tax reforms. Restructuring military power. Grandeur of Sassanian empire. Background. Reasons for the downfall of Chosroe I (weakening of Empire's military might, Armines of Islam), and its aftermath.

From the Paper
"Introduction


One of the least understood and yet most influential periods in Mesopotamian history coincides with the reign of the Sassanian Empire. Named after an ancestral figure, the Sassanian Empire lasted over four hundred years and 40 kings (Marx, p.1). Born out of the ashes of the Parthian Empire, the Sassanian Empire ushered in an era of cultural and economic revival. Harking back to the dominance of generations long gone, the Sassanian Emperors extended their dominion from their base in the Southwest of Iran to Central and even Western Asia. Sasania profited from a period of intensified trade and exchange, and shepherded Iran s role as a major gateway on the Silk Road that connected the Western world with China. Eventually, however, the wealth of the Empire led to the..."

From the Paper
"The history of the Ottoman Empire is marked by the pursuit of traditional Islamic ideals of conquest combined with the development of an efficient centralized state capable of supporting extensive conquest and managing the administration of the empire. The gazi ethos that drove the early conquest of Anatolia and, eventually, Constantinople reached a plateau following the so-called Golden Age of S?leyman I (r. 1520-66) and subsequently faded in importance as the consolidated imperial state faced new kinds of political and economic challenges. In the course of building their vast empire the Ottomans had also developed a unique variant of Islamic society in which the state was the dominant institution. The institutions of the Ottoman state were drawn from several models and served the needs of the centralized state extremely well. But, like the gazi ideology..."

Abstract
This paper traces the origins and developments of the Aztec Empire from their humble roots in southern Mexico. The author traces their developments over some 1000 years.

From the Paper
"The Aztecs were Central American Indian people who invaded central and southern Mexico and took control. As they grew in political status, they became sophisticated and civilized, learning from established peoples who had been town dwellers for more than 1,000 years. There are many myths and legends concerning these people called the Aztecs (Mayo 49). Some people describe the pyramids they built, the wars they waged and the human sacrifices they made. It has been said that their Emperor Montezuma was terrible and savage in his deeds (49). The Aztecs had a great civilization with a wealthy and diverse history. Fortunately, much of this history was preserved and recorded for us by early priest, conquistadors, Spanish chroniclers, and the Aztec themselves (49). "

Tags:aztec, empire

Abstract
The paper describes the birth of the Roman republic and the rise and fall of Julius Caesar and notes the aspects that are common to the Roman and the Greek cultures. The paper then discusses the end of the Republic and the beginning of the Empire that was marked by the naming of Octavian Augustus emperor for life. The paper outlines the era of the Five Good Emperors and focuses on Diocletian and Constantine who were some of the most important figures of the Roman Empire at that time and had a role in the spread of Christianity. Finally, the paper overviews the main reasons for the fall of the Roman Empire.

From the Paper
"The history of the Roman republic and then empire represents one of the most important segments of the history of the world. It represents the first elements of the organization of the state. However, at the same time the development of the system of government pointed out the different means through which a community can evolve from a political point of view. From the early days of the republic to the late years of the Empire, the Roman state and its institutions were a representative example for the political development of a form of government."

Tags:Byzantine, Empire, Caesar, Augustus, Diocletian, Constantine

Abstract
In an article from "History Today," Harold Perkin explains that, "Surplus extraction, without which civilization and decent human life are impossible, can too easily slip into exploitation and so lead to self-destruction" (Perkin 2002). This paper shows how the theory applies to the rise and fall of the Roman Empire. It traces the growth of Rome's financial wealth and greed, especially by its rulers and the elite ruling class. The paper concludes that, although the rule of Roman Empire was long and glorious, greed and exploitation by the elites eventually blinded its rulers from the needs of its people and the dangers of its enemies.

From the Paper
"As wealthy Romans invested abroad, loaned money at high interest rates, and created slave plantations, Roman financial operations became greater than the Greeks and Near Easterner (http://www.fsmitha.com/h1/ch15.htm). Rome was soon spending eighty percent of its budget on its military, increase in fraud rose as luxury items were imported from the east, however, since slaves did most of the work, freeman were poor and unemployed (http://www.fsmitha.com/h1/ch15.htm). Family feuds and violence were frequent, there was no medical professionals, and life expectancy was around forty years (http://www.fsmitha.com/h1/ch15.htm). "

Tags:Etruscan, Caesar

Abstract
This paper provides an analysis and discussion of the factors responsible for the success of the Chinese Empire and its maintenance, as well as those responsible for its ultimate collapse. The role of the emperor, ideology, the imperial armies and the power of assimilation are used as the main factors responsible for both the rise and the fall of the world's most enduring Empire.

From the Paper
"Any valid framework of empire-building must accept that building and maintaining an empire is a monumental challenge to say the least. From vast territories to oversee and control and competing ideologies of empire to ongoing attack from outside enemies and internal rebellions that the cost of putting them down sets off, it is a significant understatement to maintain the position that empire-building and maintenance is difficult. Nevertheless, the Chinese Empire is among the greatest empires in history where longevity, population geographical extent and lasting influence..."

Tags:Han, Qing, Tang, Mandate of Heaven, Confucianism, religion, culture, war, imperialism, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, language, education, economics, public works, Great Wall

Abstract
The author begins this paper with an examination of the development and decline of the Roman Empire and its various trade connections. The author moves on to look at the rise of Islam in the 7th century and the subsequent fall of the Axum Empire. The author continues by looking at the rise of Christianity in the Mediterranean region and its move into Africa and then how Islam essentially eliminated Christianity in those regions. The author then discusses Islam's effect on commerce and military matters and its development in Africa by means of conquests and it's ideology of equality among believers.

From the paper:

"The spread of Islam, from its heartland in the Middle East and North Africa to India and Southeast Asia, revealed the power of the religion and its commercial and sometimes military attributes. Civilizations were altered without being fully drawn into a single Islamic statement. A similar pattern developed in sub-Saharan Africa, as Islam provided new influences and contacts without amalgamating African culture as a whole to the Middle Eastern core. New religious, economic, and political patterns developed in relation to the Islamic surge, but great diversity remained."

Tags:roman, empire, maritime, routes, commerce, middle, ages, constantinople, axum, kush, trade, mereo, nobatae, meroitic, blemmyes, byzantine, nobatia, christianity, berber, abbasid, dynasty, unity, sahel, sahara, conversion, puritanical, reformist, movement, almoravids, jihad, almohades