Big History Power Point

Michael Huey

People and EmpiresNotable 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

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

How to build and establisha 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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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