State-building, expansion, and conflict

Very technologically advanced for their time, the Harappa and Mohenjo-daro people were able to build a successful urban society.

The Ancient Egyptian civilization produced the first government to rule an entire nation. The Pharaoh was the ruler of Ancient Egypt, both politically and religiously. The Pharaoh held the title 'Lord of the Two Lands', meaning that he ruled all of Upper and Lower Egypt.

Among the rivers the Sumerian people built the first cities along with irrigation canals which were separated by vast stretches of open desert or swamp where nomadic tribes roamed. Communication among the isolated cities was difficult and, at times, dangerous. Each Sumerian city became a city-state, independent of the others and protective of its independence. At times one city would try to conquer and unify the region, but such efforts were resisted and failed for centuries. As a result, the political history of Sumer is one of almost constant warfare.

The first historic dynasty in Chinese history.

In 771 BC, the Zhou capital was sacked by barbarian invaders, ending the effective Zhou rule over a wide area.

At one point most powerful state in the world, also followed the democratic path that Rome did.

Sowed the seeds for democracy.

The Achaemenids were the ruling dynasty of Cyrus the Great and his family over the Persian Empire, from 550-330 BC, when it was conquered by Alexander the Great. Cyrus's empire included Libya, Ethiopia, Thrace, Macedonia, Afghanistan, and the Punjab and everything in between.

The Qin dynasty was the first dynasty to have complete control of China.

Brought an end to the chaos that raged throughout China after the fall of the Qin dynasty. The Han emperors ruled China for more than 400 years, except for a brief period between AD 9 and 23, when a powerful minister, Wang mang, seized the throne.

Was the Eastern half of the Roman empire that managed to survive. During most of its existence, the empire was the most powerful economic, cultural, and military force in Europe.

Breaks up into Turkey, Armenia, Yemen, etc. after World War I

Discovery of the Americas by Christopher Colombus as Spain spread the empire across the word. Later in 1520 Cortez conquered Mexico, which also lead the diffusion of Spanish culture around the world.

The last imperial dynasty of China.

People of royalty were given positions of power, by the 19th century, the idea of a Monarchy was all but gone. This was due to Revolutions in America, England, and France being the stepping stones for other countries.

People were given the right to make decisions and have a say in what happens to them and their government.

From the 20's to the 90's, the rise of Communism spread to countries like Cuba, China, North Korea, Russia,
Vietnam, etc.