Wilhite, Tyler

India’s First Empires

WHEN: 400 BC - 550 AD

WHERE: The Mauryan empire was centred at Pataliputra, near the junction of the Son and Ganges rivers. The Gupta Empire stretched across northern, central and parts of southern India.

WHAT: The Mauryas and the Guptas established empires, but neither unified India permanently.

WHO: Asoka, Tamil, Chandragupta Maurya

WHY: The diversity of peoples, cultures, beliefs, and languages in India continues to pose challenges to Indian unity today.

The Roman Empire

WHEN: 27 BC - 180 AD

WHERE: The Roman Empire included most of continental Europe, Britain, most of western Asia, northern Africa and the Mediterranean islands.

WHAT: The creation of the Roman Empire transformed Roman government, society, economy, and culture.

WHO: Julius Caesar, Augustus

WHY: The Roman Empire has served throughout history as a model of political organization and control.

The Kingdom of Aksum

WHEN: 100-940 AD

WHERE: It was located south of Kush on a rugged plateau on the Red Sea, in what are now the countries of Eritrea and Ethiopia.

WHAT: The kingdom of Aksum became an international trading power and adopted Christianity. The location of The Kingdom of Aksum, along the Read Sea, allowed for international trade.

WHO: Aksum, Adulis, Ezana

WHY: Ancient Aksum, which is now Ethiopia, is still a center of the Ethiopian Orthodox Christian Church.

The Rise of Christianity

WHEN: 313 AD - 500 AD

WHERE: By 500 AD, Christianity had been spread throughout most of europe to the north, northern Africa to the south, Iberia to the east, and India to the west.

WHAT: Christianity arose in Roman-occupied Judea and spread throughout the Roman Empire.

WHO: Jesus, The Apostles, Paul, Diaspora, Constantine, Peter

WHY: Christianity has spread throughout the world and today has more than a billion followers.

The Fall of the Roman Empire

WHEN: 350-500 AD

WHERE: At its peak, the Roman Empire encompassed most of continental Europe, Britain, much of western Asia, northern Africa and the Mediterranean islands.

WHAT: Internal problems and invasions spurred the division and decline of the Roman Empire. Some of the specific issues that caused the decline were: Invasions by Barbarian tribes, economic troubles and overreliance on slave labor, the rise of the Eastern Empire, overexpansion and military overspending, government corruption and political instability,
the arrival of the Huns and the migration of the Barbarian tribes, Christianity and the loss of traditional values, and weakening of the Roman legions.
WHO: Diocletian, Constantinople, Attila

WHY: The decline and fall of great civilizations is a repeating pattern in world history.

The Byzantine Empire

WHEN: 527-850 AD

WHERE: Byzantine Empire was made up of what was once the Eastern Roman Empire. This included the countries located along the eastern Mediterranean. Those countries are now Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Albania, Croatia, Greece and parts of Italy.

WHAT: After Rome split, the Eastern Empire, known as Byzantium, flourished for a thousand years. During this time extensive legal writings were developed, known as The Justinian Code. This code dictated many aspects of the citizen’s daily life.

WHO: Justinian

WHY: Byzantine culture deeply influenced Orthodox Christianity, a major branch of modern Christianity.

The Rise of Islam

WHEN: 600-1250 AD

WHERE: Arabian Peninsula was the origin of the Muslim world.

WHAT: Muhammad unified the Arab people both politically and through the religion of Islam.

WHO: Muhammad, Allah, Abraham

WHY: As the world’s fastest-growing major religion, Islam has a strong impact on the lives of millions today.

Tang and Song China

WHEN: 618 AD 1279 AD

WHERE: The Tang Dynasty ruled from the Korean Peninsula to the Tarim Basin, and from Mongolia to modern Vietnam. The Song Dynasty controlled most of what is now Eastern China.

WHAT: During the Tang and Song dynasties, China experienced an era of prosperity and technological innovation.

WHO: Tang Taizong , Wu Zhao

WHY: Chinese inventions from this period, such as printing, gunpowder, and the compass, changed history.

Charlemagne Unites Germanic Kingdoms

WHEN: 771-814 AD

WHERE: Western Europe

WHAT: Many Germanic kingdoms that succeeded the Roman Empire were reunited under Charlemagne’s empire.

WHO: Charlemagne, Louis the Pious, Lothair, Charles the Bald, Louis the German

WHY: Charlemagne spread Christian civilization through Northern Europe, where it had a permanent impact.

Feudalism in Europe

WHEN: 850 - 950 AD

WHERE: Europe

WHAT: Feudalism, a political and economic system based on land-holding and protective alliances (relationships), emerges in Europe. The feudal system was based on rights and obligations. In exchange for military protection and other services, a lord, or landowner, granted land called a fief. The person receiving a fief was called a vassal. Feudalism depended on the control of land.

WHO: The Vikings, Magyars, Muslims

WHY: The rights and duties of feudal relationships helped shape today’s forms of representative government.