Three Different Empires Of The Romans, The Aztecs, And The Incas

Assignment #5 In this essay we would be discussing the rise of three different empires, the Romans, the Aztecs, and the Incas. Also, explaining what an empire is and how it differs from city-states and territorial states. We would also be describing each of the three empires, in what ways each empire was unique, and if any, what characteristics did each empire share with one or both of the others. “In general, an empire is a super state. It is a state that has conquered and absorbed neighboring states”(Smiley, 1). Like states, empires have a bureaucracy, a standing army, and a strong military. When an empire expands, it extends its control over a large geographic area and incorporates distinct ethnic and cultural groups. All

“The Roman Empire is heir to nearly three thousand years of development in the Mediterranean basin”(Smiley, 1). The Romans were guided by the Etruscan, a cultural group in central Italy that taught them the alphabet and even their architecture. After being helped by the Etruscan, the Romans rebelled back and defeated Etruria. They completely obliterated all traces of Etruscan society. After being attack by the Gaul in 387 BCE, the Romans rebuilt their city with even stronger defenses. They reorganized their army and introduced new tactics and iron weapons. By the end of the century, the Romans had a strong army and navy. The Carthaginians, a powerful maritime empire in North Africa, also helped the Romans conquered all of Southern Italy and the Greek colonies. However, the Romans turned against Carthage because it was a major sea power. Rome was expanding and wanted to get bigger, so they fought Carthage for control of Sicily over 120 years until in 146 BCE, Rome won. The Romans destroyed the city of Carthage by killing most of the inhabitants, burning the Carthage navy and salting the earth so no crops well ever grow. The few who survive were slaughtered or sold to slavery. “By the mid second century BCE, Rome was the most powerful empire in the Mediterranean. It had a well-trained army and an excellent navy”(Smiley, 1). The conquest of Carthage and Greek territory help Rome become a great

The Aztec empire was an organized system of tribute flowing into the Triple Alliance. Once a state was conquered, city-state was expected to pay tribute. Also, the Aztecs followed a plan similar to the Romans. “As the Aztec empire expanded, it engulfed local city-states, but allowed the local rulers to go on as before. As long as they paid tribute, there was no problem”(Smiley, 1). The city-states paid tribute two to four times a year. Throughout the empire, exotic goods flourished. Markets were a hallmark of the Aztec society. Chinampas were the key of Aztec farming. They were gardens that seem to flourished in Lake Xochimilco and Lake Chalco. Beans, squash, tomatoes, chilies, and maize all grew well on chinampas because of the fertile. The Aztec created a vast empire between 1325 and 1500. Their capital at Tenochtitlan, being the largest city of the ancient world, rivaled any city in the world but unfortunately the Aztec empire collapse