Prosperity and Government

Throughout history, humanity was led by a select few gifted individuals. Though their methods are almost always controversial, the fact remains that they had the capability to rule over a large group of people. They formed alliances with each other, and sometimes did the opposite, obliterating all that stands in the path of their conquest. This power was sometimes abused, and the consequences of such misusage of power were extremely deadly. In the early parts of the Qing Dynasty of China, the Mughal Empire, the Ottoman Empire, the Spanish Empire, and the Mali Empire, government power and authority is heavily tied into the success of their respective empires.

In the Qing Dynasty, the last dynasty of China, government power had heavily influenced its fate. The emperor Kangxi, widely known as one of China’s greatest rulers, used his authority to expand China’s borders, defeating rebels and foreign invaders. At its height, which was reached under the reign of Kangxi (1661-1722), they ruled over present-day China and Mongolia, and had the Joseon/Choson Dynasty of Korea as a protectorate. Government power in Qing China was also exerted over its culture. The government forced all males to have queues, which today are more often referred to as pigtails. The punishment for this was often severe, and massacres were held to bring the population into compliance with the rule.

In the Mughal Empire of northern India, government power showed itself in a different lens. The Mughals used their authority to construct massive building projects, ultimately culminating in the construction of the Taj Mahal. The rule of Akbar “the Great” was called one of the high points of Indian civilization. He instituted religious liberalism in the country, a...

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...not as skilled. Out of all the civilizations mentioned, only the Spanish Empire continues to exist in a form reminiscent of its historical form, therefore proving that every civilization has had horrible rulers as well as great rulers. Even today, some rulers are better than others, yet all governments have some effect on the populace.

Works Cited

Cotterell, Arthur, Alan Hills, and Geoff Brightling. Ancient China . New York: Knopf :, 1994. Print.

Lewis, Bernard. The Middle East: a brief history of the last 2,000 years. New York, NY: Touchstone, 1997. Print.

Naylor, Kim. "Mali's History." Mali . New York, NY: Chelsea House, 1987. 14-20. Print.

Stoff, Laurie. Spain . San Diego: Greenhaven Press :, 2004. Print.

"The Mughal Empire." University of California, Los Angeles. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2011. .