I. Activating Prior Knowledge
Look at your graphic organizer. How would you describe an empire? Who controls an empire? Why are empires important? Name some empires that you are familiar.
II. Setting A Purpose for Reading
This article compares and contrasts empires and kingdoms. How are empires and kingdoms similar? How are they different? Which would you rather rule, an empire or a kingdom? Why?
III. Reading the Text (Read, Re-Read, and Read Again)
An empire is the rule of one group of people over other groups who have different languages and customs. An emperor rules an empire.
STOP! Can you answer this question? If not, go back and re-read the passage.
How does different languages and customs impact the rule of an empire?
A kingdom is a smaller state made up of people who share the same culture. If a kingdom is strong enough to rule over other lands, it can become an empire. Throughout history, empires were built through wars. Conquered lands were forced to become part of the empire.
STOP! Can you answer this question? If not, go back and re-read the passage.
Imagine that your country has been captured by an empire. How would you react? How might your actions impact the empire?
Empires were more difficult to rule than kingdoms. A well-organized government was needed to keep the many different lands and people united under the emperor’s rule. Transportation networks had to be built and protected so that products from the empire’s far corners could be brought to the capital. Long distance trade had to be established and taxes collected. Money was
needed to build an army that would protect trade and defend the empire.
STOP! Can you answer this question? If not, go back and re-read the passage.
In order to build a thriving empire, what is needed?
Enough tax money had to be collected to pay for roads, armies, and the officials needed to run the empire. But if taxes were too high, people couldn’t pay them. Trade suffered and the amount of money flowing into the treasury decreased. This type of economic mistake could cause people to rebel.
STOP! Can you answer this question? If not, go back and re-read the passage.
How was tax money used? What was the problem with taxes?
Emperors tried to win people’s loyalty by making people citizens and by sharing knowledge and technology. But, they had to be careful that people did not gain so much power that they could break away from or overthrow the government. Some empires throughout Afroeurasia maintained this balance for long periods of time. But from the 3rd to 7th centuries, three of the most powerful empires began to weaken and collapse.
Principal reference: Howard Spodek, The World’s History, second ed., vol.1 (Upper Saddle River NJ: Prentice Hall, 2000)
Source: http://worldhistoryforusall.sdsu.edu/eras/era5.php
IV. Personal Reflection – Respond to the following question in your blog. Be sure to include a quote from the text to support your response.
Part 1 - Response: Based on the reading, which would you rather rule, an empire or a kingdom? Give at least two strong reasons for your response.
Part 2 - Question: Using the map below, what modern day countries made up the Han Dynasty? Gupta Empire? and, Roman Empire?
Part 3 - Response: In your opinion, why would an empire collapse? As we progress through subsequent chapters, we will unveil the reasons for the collapse of
V. Peer Reflection - Read three classmates’ response and respond to what they have written.
Source: http://chinawestproducts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Roman-Han-Gupta-Empires.jpg
Look at your graphic organizer. How would you describe an empire? Who controls an empire? Why are empires important? Name some empires that you are familiar.
II. Setting A Purpose for Reading
This article compares and contrasts empires and kingdoms. How are empires and kingdoms similar? How are they different? Which would you rather rule, an empire or a kingdom? Why?
III. Reading the Text (Read, Re-Read, and Read Again)
An empire is the rule of one group of people over other groups who have different languages and customs. An emperor rules an empire.
STOP! Can you answer this question? If not, go back and re-read the passage.
How does different languages and customs impact the rule of an empire?
A kingdom is a smaller state made up of people who share the same culture. If a kingdom is strong enough to rule over other lands, it can become an empire. Throughout history, empires were built through wars. Conquered lands were forced to become part of the empire.
STOP! Can you answer this question? If not, go back and re-read the passage.
Imagine that your country has been captured by an empire. How would you react? How might your actions impact the empire?
Empires were more difficult to rule than kingdoms. A well-organized government was needed to keep the many different lands and people united under the emperor’s rule. Transportation networks had to be built and protected so that products from the empire’s far corners could be brought to the capital. Long distance trade had to be established and taxes collected. Money was
needed to build an army that would protect trade and defend the empire.
STOP! Can you answer this question? If not, go back and re-read the passage.
In order to build a thriving empire, what is needed?
Enough tax money had to be collected to pay for roads, armies, and the officials needed to run the empire. But if taxes were too high, people couldn’t pay them. Trade suffered and the amount of money flowing into the treasury decreased. This type of economic mistake could cause people to rebel.
STOP! Can you answer this question? If not, go back and re-read the passage.
How was tax money used? What was the problem with taxes?
Emperors tried to win people’s loyalty by making people citizens and by sharing knowledge and technology. But, they had to be careful that people did not gain so much power that they could break away from or overthrow the government. Some empires throughout Afroeurasia maintained this balance for long periods of time. But from the 3rd to 7th centuries, three of the most powerful empires began to weaken and collapse.
Principal reference: Howard Spodek, The World’s History, second ed., vol.1 (Upper Saddle River NJ: Prentice Hall, 2000)
Source: http://worldhistoryforusall.sdsu.edu/eras/era5.php
IV. Personal Reflection – Respond to the following question in your blog. Be sure to include a quote from the text to support your response.
Part 1 - Response: Based on the reading, which would you rather rule, an empire or a kingdom? Give at least two strong reasons for your response.
Part 2 - Question: Using the map below, what modern day countries made up the Han Dynasty? Gupta Empire? and, Roman Empire?
Part 3 - Response: In your opinion, why would an empire collapse? As we progress through subsequent chapters, we will unveil the reasons for the collapse of
V. Peer Reflection - Read three classmates’ response and respond to what they have written.
Source: http://chinawestproducts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Roman-Han-Gupta-Empires.jpg
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