Growth of Cities and Urbanization Factors
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Questions and Answers

What was the approximate population of Uruk in 3000 BCE?

  • 25,000
  • 50,000 (correct)
  • 75,000
  • 100,000

What type of writing frequently compared cities unfavorably to rural areas?

  • Ancient Greek poetry
  • Modern journalism
  • Roman histories
  • Ancient literature (correct)

Which artist sang about New York in 2009 CE?

  • Jay-Z (correct)
  • Drake
  • Beyoncé
  • Kanye West

How many cities in the world currently have more than 10 million inhabitants?

<p>50 (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was one danger associated with city life noted by ancient writers?

<p>Morality and corruption (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What geographical context did the first cities develop in?

<p>Independently in various regions (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of image does ancient literature often depict cities as?

<p>Sites of learning and prosperity (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which city is noted for having a population greater than the entire global population in 3000 BCE?

<p>Tokyo (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the main benefits of the trade networks connecting ancient cities?

<p>They allowed for the exchange of diverse crops and goods. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which item from the Standard of Ur illustrates the extent of ancient trade?

<p>Lapis lazuli from Afghanistan (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What consequence did overcrowding in cities often lead to?

<p>The spread of diseases (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did cities contribute to the connection between urban and rural life?

<p>By creating economic dependencies between urban and rural areas (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role did kings in ancient cities sometimes play relative to other cities?

<p>They launched military conquests. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what way do the authors mentioned view the relationship between rural and urban spaces?

<p>They contend that rural and urban are interconnected within a larger network. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary characteristic of hinterlands in relation to cities?

<p>They are rural areas economically linked to a city. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is rhetoric described as in the context of rural studies?

<p>The art of persuasive writing that can mislead or bias. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was one major factor that contributed to the development of cities?

<p>Location (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What social structure did people in cities typically experience?

<p>Hierarchical social structure (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which city was the largest in the world by 100 CE?

<p>Rome (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What innovation was crucial for feeding the large populations in ancient cities?

<p>Food surplus production (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was a common reason for urbanization despite the risks of disease?

<p>Limited agricultural options (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In cities, the division of labor led to what kind of networks?

<p>Dense interdependence (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characterized the urban hierarchy in ancient cities?

<p>Social classes with specific roles (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was an essential technological innovation for ancient cities?

<p>Aqueducts and qanats (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was one reason cities often grew in size?

<p>Conquest of neighboring lands (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was NOT a common characteristic of cities in Mesopotamia, China, and Mesoamerica?

<p>Isolation from other regions (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did urban divisions of labor impact community structures?

<p>They created commercial neighborhoods. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role did priests typically play in ancient cities?

<p>They influenced the social hierarchy. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why were some ancient cities like Jenne-Jeno and Mohenjo-Daro notable?

<p>Uncommon warfare. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What essential need arose from the rapid growth of cities?

<p>Increased agricultural output (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What method did Ashoka use to communicate his authority to his subjects?

<p>Inscriptions on large pillars (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which concept was developed by the Zhou Dynasty to justify their rule and defend against corruption accusations?

<p>Mandate of Heaven (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characterized the relationship between a dynasty and its rule in an empire?

<p>Dynasty's legitimacy was crucial for maintaining power (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What method did Ashoka utilize to ensure his reign appeared peaceful to his subjects?

<p>Promoting Buddhism and publicizing peace-oriented edicts (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did the idea of a dynasty contribute to the perception of rulers in ancient empires?

<p>It established a lineage that legitimizes their power (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was a common outcome as dynasties became seen as corrupt over time?

<p>Rising calls for reform or new leadership (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following empires primarily based its rulers on leadership qualities rather than lineage?

<p>Roman Empire (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did the dynastic lineage affect succession in the Chinese Han Empire?

<p>All emperors were directly related to the first Han ruler (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What method did the Roman Empire initially use to manage peripheral areas?

<p>By allowing vassal kings to govern (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What significant event marked the end of the First Jewish Revolt?

<p>Fall of the fortress of Masada (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did the Persian Emperor differ from the Roman Empire in controlling peripheral states?

<p>By allowing significant autonomy in exchange for loyalty (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was a major consequence of Caracalla granting citizenship to all peoples within the Empire?

<p>Stricter divisions between wealthy and poor citizens (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the Roman attitude toward their peripheral populations?

<p>Superiority and domination (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was a common practice among empires, including the Roman Empire, to maintain control over their subjects?

<p>Using a bureaucratic system to extract taxes (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What triggered the First Jewish Revolt against Roman rule?

<p>Heavy taxation and lack of protection from abuses (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the fate of the Jewish rebels at Masada?

<p>Most committed suicide when defeat was imminent (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What underlying dynamic fueled empires' approaches to taxation and control?

<p>Need to sustain military power (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role did citizenship play during Caracalla’s reign?

<p>Citizenship was equally granted to everyone (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was a primary role of the empress in many empires?

<p>To bear a son who could become emperor (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about the title 'imperator' is accurate?

<p>It originated from successful military generals. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the Mandate of Heaven used for in the Zhou Dynasty?

<p>To claim divine right to rule (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did Hatshepsut present herself to maintain power as a female pharaoh?

<p>As a male ruler (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What common strategy did empires use to ensure loyalty from conquered people?

<p>Creating administrative districts (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which emperor claimed that he was chosen by the god Marduk?

<p>Cyrus the Great of Persia (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was a consequence for Romans who failed to perform sacrifices to the gods?

<p>Severe punishments and persecution (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did the Neo-Assyrian Empire do to integrate their religion into conquered territories?

<p>Introduced their god among the local pantheon (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary function of commanderies in the Han Empire?

<p>To manage administrative affairs (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role did strong empresses often play when emperors were weak?

<p>They manipulated policies through their husbands (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What visual representation did aspects of imperial power commonly include?

<p>Weapons of war (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What often resulted from the process of creating religious unity within empires?

<p>Violent coercion (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the key motivations for maintaining loyalty among conquered peoples?

<p>Collecting taxes (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How were women who exerted power often depicted by historians?

<p>Negatively and unfairly (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Independent Development of Cities

The first cities built independently in different parts of the world.

Cities as a Result of Agriculture

Cities arose from agricultural advancements, connecting people, farmland, and other cities.

Cities as Centers of Civilization

Cities serve as centers of learning and prosperity, contrasting with the perceived backwardness of rural areas.

Cities as Places of Immorality

Cities are often depicted as places of immorality and corruption, highlighting the challenges of urban life.

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Impact of City Growth on Human Society

The massive population growth of cities, especially in modern times, has transformed human society.

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Population of Early Cities

The population of Uruk, a Mesopotamian city, was around 50,000 people, significantly smaller than modern cities.

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Praise for Cities Throughout History

Cities have been praised for their beauty, prosperity, and cultural significance throughout history.

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Transformative Power of Cities

The growth of cities has fundamentally changed human society, bringing both opportunities and challenges.

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Urbanization

The development of cities, marked by population growth, social complexity, and technological advancement.

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Strategic Locations for Urbanization

Locations that offered advantages for agriculture, trade, or defense, often leading to the development of cities.

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City Hierarchy

The system of ranks and power within a city, with different groups having different levels of status and influence.

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Civilization as a City-Based Concept

The idea that city dwellers were considered 'civilized' while those living in rural areas were not.

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Division of Labor

The practice of dividing tasks among different individuals or groups, allowing for specialized skills and increased efficiency.

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Food Surplus

The amount of food produced beyond what is needed for immediate consumption, allowing for storage, trade, and support of non-farming populations.

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Urban Networks

The connected network of people, resources, and activities that support a city's functioning.

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Hinterlands

The areas surrounding a city that provide resources and support to urban populations.

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Conquering for Agricultural Productivity

The practice of using power to expand control over surrounding territories, often to secure resources like food and labor.

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Technological Innovations in Ancient Cities

The systems and infrastructures that allowed ancient cities to manage resources, such as water, sanitation, and transportation.

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Cities as Global Connectors

The ability of ancient cities to connect people and goods across vast distances, fostering cultural exchange and trade.

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Mohenjo-Daro

The ruins of an ancient city in present-day Pakistan, known for its sophisticated urban planning, sanitation systems, and apparent lack of centralized political structures.

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Teotihuacan Structures

A large, leveled structure with staircases found in the ruins of Teotihuacan, an ancient city in Mesoamerica.

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Qanats

A system of underground tunnels that channeled water from mountains to cities, used in ancient Persia.

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Irrigation Systems

A system of canals and ditches used to transport water for agriculture and navigation.

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Ancient City Trade Networks

The trading of goods and resources between cities, often including food, animals, and luxury items.

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Conquering Cities and Empires

The act of conquering other cities to establish a larger empire, often leading to greater interconnectedness and cultural exchange.

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Disease Spread in Cities

The spread of diseases, especially infections, through trade routes and the close living conditions of cities.

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Rural-Urban Divide

The idea that city and country life are fundamentally different and distinct.

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Cities and Rural Areas Are Interconnected

The interconnectedness of cities and surrounding rural areas, highlighting their mutual dependence and collaboration.

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Rural Rhetoric

The study of how language is used to persuade and influence, especially in the context of rural life.

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Cities as Centers of Connection

The ability of cities to bring people together from different backgrounds and regions, fostering interaction and exchanging ideas.

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Historical Comparisons of Urban and Rural Life

The historical comparison of urban and rural life, revealing the deep interconnectedness between these two worlds.

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Dynastic Legitimacy

Rulers' families become closely connected to the empire, and people accept their authority as legitimate, ensuring stability.

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Mandate of Heaven

The idea that a dynasty's rule is justified by divine mandate, often used to legitimize power and prevent accusations of corruption.

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Dynasty

The core family members of a ruling dynasty, who usually are related by blood and inherit power from their predecessors.

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Control of Peripheries

Having authority over areas outside the empire's center, expanding influence and securing resources.

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Military Power

A strong army is a key tool used to legitimize control and enforce authority; a powerful army showcases an empire's strength and ability to protect its people.

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Use of Religion

Imperial rulers often use religion to legitimize their authority, by claiming divine favor or being seen as a protector of faith.

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Multiple Methods of Control

Ancient empires would often use a combination of tactics like military force, religious claims, and family ties to maintain their hold on power.

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Public Monuments

Public monuments like pillars inscribed with edicts serve as reminders of a ruler's authority and the empire's greatness.

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Vassal Kings in the Roman Empire

In the early Roman Empire, these kings were recognized as independent rulers, but they were ultimately subordinate to Rome and followed Roman directives.

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Roman Abuses in Judea

A series of these abuses by Greeks in Judea led to riots and eventually a rebellion against Roman rule.

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Control through Toleration

This strategy involves allowing peripheral areas considerable freedom as long as they acknowledge the emperor's authority and pay taxes.

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First Jewish Revolt

This event in 66 CE was triggered by heavy taxation and Roman mistreatment of Jews in Judea.

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Control through Violence

This strategy involves using force and punishment to control peripheral populations, often through harsh measures.

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Caracalla's Grant of Citizenship

This Roman Emperor attempted to unify his empire by granting citizenship to all people within its borders.

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Methods Used by Empires

These are the methods that empires use to control their subjects, including taxation, religion, and military force.

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Honestiores

These are the individuals within the Roman Empire who held higher social status, wealth, and privilege.

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Humiliores

These are individuals who were considered of lower social status, often without citizenship rights, and were subject to more harsh treatment by the Empire.

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Paying Lip Service

This refers to paying lip service to an emperor or ruler, expressing agreement while secretly harboring different opinions.

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What were Qanats?

A system of underground tunnels used to channel water from mountains to cities, developed and used extensively in ancient Persia.

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What is 'goddnapping'?

The practice of intentionally taking sacred idols from conquered peoples and bringing them back to their capital city, used by the Hittites of ancient Anatolia to assert religious control.

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What is the Mandate of Heaven?

The belief that a dynasty's right to rule is derived from Heaven's mandate, justifying their power and legitimizing their reign. If a dynasty becomes corrupt or fails, the people can overthrow it.

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How did empires use religion for control?

The idea that empires used religion to control conquered territories by including their own gods in the pantheon of the conquered people's religious practices.

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What is a 'libellus'?

A document signed by both the individual and a representative of the state that proved an individual's loyalty by showing they had offered sacrifices to the gods, used by the Roman Empire to ensure public loyalty.

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What were commanderies?

A type of administrative district used by the Han Dynasty of China to manage its vast territories efficiently and establish peace and order.

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What is the origin of the word 'emperor'?

The title of 'emperor' in Rome, originally a military term used for successful generals, signifying the blending of military power and imperial authority.

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How was the role of the empress viewed?

The role of the empress was often seen as secondary to the emperor, particularly in societies that valued male dominance and defined imperial power as masculine.

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How did some empresses influence imperial decisions?

Empresses who wielded significant power, especially during periods of weak emperors, often influenced their husbands' policies, sometimes even dictating them.

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How did Hatshepsut legitimize her rule?

Hatshepsut, although a woman, ruled Egypt as a pharaoh for over two decades, presenting herself as a man to legitimize her rule, as seen in her statues depicting her with a male skirt and false beard.

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How did empires control their territories?

Emperors and empresses often used their power to control their vast territories, utilizing a variety of methods including military force and religious influence.

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How did emperors use religion to control conquered territories?

For conquered territories, emperors could use religious beliefs to assert their authority, as seen in Cyrus the Great's claim to be chosen by the Babylonian god Marduk, effectively solidifying his rule.

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How did individuals like Empress Theodora influence imperial power?

Imperial power often involved a complex relationship between the emperor, the empress, and other powerful figures, with individuals like Empress Theodora of the Eastern Roman Empire playing influential roles in advising their husbands.

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Why was loyalty crucial for empires?

Ensuring the loyalty of conquered populations was essential for maintaining imperial control, as they provided both tax revenue and manpower for the military.

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How did emperors and empresses solidify their authority?

Emperors and empresses often used propaganda and symbols of power to solidify their authority, representing their power and reinforcing their social structure.

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Study Notes

Growth of Cities

  • Cities fundamentally altered human society and living arrangements
  • People have always praised cities, contrasting them with rural areas, often highlighting both benefits and drawbacks. This contrast has endured across centuries and cultures.
  • Uruk, a Mesopotamian city, was the largest in the world around 3000 BCE, with a population about half the size of a modern city like South Bend, Indiana. Today, numerous cities surpass 10 million people.
  • Cities emerged independently across various regions over time, starting in Mesopotamia and Egypt around 6,000 years ago, followed by areas like China, India, and Southeast Asia 5,000 years ago, and expanding again in Mesoamerica, the Andes, and sub-Saharan Africa (4,000-2,500 years ago).

Factors Driving Urbanization

  • Location played a crucial role in city development, often aligning with agricultural, trade, or defensive advantages.
  • Cities provided safety from enemies, bandits, and wild animals.
  • Urban areas offered more job opportunities compared to rural life, attracting people seeking economic advancement.
    • Increased social mobility lured people from rural areas to urban centers.

Characteristics of City Life

  • City life featured hierarchical social structures and faster transmission of diseases, leading to a shorter lifespan compared to rural areas.
  • Cities fostered technological innovation in areas like architecture, metalworking, sanitation, and water management.
    • Aqueducts and other water management systems provided access to water sources.
  • A division of labor and specialized jobs developed in cities, supported by agricultural surpluses
    • Agricultural surpluses freed individuals from farming, allowing for job diversification and specialization.
    • This intricate system of interdependent labor was crucial to city function.

Organization of Cities

  • Hierarchy was essential to city function, from the king and priest class down to various occupations.
  • Evidence from different ancient cities reveals variations in social organization. Some cities, like those in Mesopotamia and Greece, reveal centralized authority figures and hierarchies. Other cities, such as Jenne-Jeno, Mohenjo-Daro, and Harappa, showed less centralized authority and may have had infrequent warfare.
  • Cities relied on the surrounding agricultural areas for food and resources.

Interconnectedness of Cities and Rural Areas

  • Cities established networks across regions through trade, impacting communities outside of their boundaries.
    • Trade networks facilitated the exchange of goods and resources like lapis lazuli, red marble, and seashells over wide distances.
  • Disease spread easily due to densely populated urban environments.
  • Cities and rural communities were interconnected; while cities focused on specialized labor, rural areas were crucial for providing food and resources.
  • The growth of cities affected the surrounding rural areas, demanding increased production of food. Rulers acquired neighboring lands to increase agricultural output to feed urban populations.
  • Urban areas became centers of power, building empires and interconnected networks.

Authority and Control During Ancient Empires

  • Empires used a combination of methods (family ties, religion, control of peripheries) to maintain authority and control their populations.
  • Dynastic legitimacy (associated family with rule) was crucial. The Mandate of Heaven was a concept developed by the Zhou Dynasty to justify and legitimize rule. The concept addressed corruption and the succession of rulers.
  • Many empires had blood lineages for succession.
  • Emperors/Empresses often played critical roles.
  • Male emperors were the norm, although women exerted influence at times. Strong empresses could exert power, primarily advising their husbands, ruling on behalf of child rulers, or even taking the emperor title (e.g., Lü, Hatshepsut).
  • Religion played a crucial role.
    • Claiming divine support (e.g., Cyrus the Great relating to Marduk—God of Babylon) to legitimize rule was common.
    • Religious unity was often enforced through violence. (e.g., Romans requiring sacrifices.)
  • Control of peripheries was essential for tax collection and prevention of rebellion.
    • Empires used different approaches to control peripheries, from vassal kings to imperial bureaucrats and commanderies.
    • Taxes, violence (wars), and religious conversion were frequent strategies.

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Explore the evolution of cities and their impact on human society. This quiz delves into the historical emergence of urban areas, contrasting urban and rural living, and the various factors that drove urbanization across different cultures and eras. Test your knowledge on the largest cities in history and the advantages of city life.

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