Superpowers, empires, and supranational institutions and organisations

What is an empire?

A group of countries that are controlled by one ruler or one government.

How are empires formed and maintained?

Military conquest, financial gain, cultural reasons

Imperialism

Ideology of expanding a nation’s power

Central authority

An individual or small group of people in power, they control law, military, economy, religion, and distribution of resources

Capital city

Central government manages the empire, home of rule and government institutions

Mongol empire ruler

Genghis Khan

Mongol empire captured

Asia, Middle East, Africa, Europe through military conquest

Mongole Empire success

Through military conquest, use of horses for movement, use of composite bow

Why was Mongol empire powerful

They had a strong military organisation and rewarded loyalty, they invested in innovation and technology.

Climate change effects on Mongol empire

Great rainfall due to climate change led to more greenery and more prospering in their fauna and flora

Exchange of culture in Mongol empire

Mongol empire was very large with many different cultures and ideas which were exchanged.

Mongol empire trade and roads

The silk road facilitated trade and exchange of ideas and goods in the mongol empire

What systems keep an empire in place?

Government, legal system, infrastructure and communication systems

Government

A ruler or rulers that organise an empire through laws and taxes to pay for the government.

Tax collection

People giving services and money to the government to pay for expenses, Roman empire taxed people

Planning and record keeping

Records were used for successful administration, Venice used archives to aid their relation with Ottoman empire

Laws and law enforcement

Yassa law in the Mongol empire helped keep the empire strong by focusing on military organisation and responsibilities of elites and citizens

Infrastrucure

Middle kingdom Egypt constructed canals to increase amount of land under cultivation.

Food storage

The Roman’s grain supply was very important so they created storage facilities to store it

Communication system

The Mongol empire was large, and they used the Yam system to communicate, which consisted of people on horses travelling back and forth to deliver information

Defence mechanisms

Standing military, Wall of defence, Alliance system

Advantages of standing military

• The mongol empire had the greatest land empire through military conquest.

• Genghis Khan invested in military and military weapons and animals which led to their success.

Disadvantages of standing military

• Economic strain from military spending led to fall of Roman Empire

• Loyalty of the soldiers shifted to the generals instead of the state.

Advantages of wall of defence

• The great wall of china aimed at delaying attacks and protected their capital.

• The great wall was very durable and still is there

Disadvantages of wall of defence

• The great wall of china took a very long time to build and was very costly.

• Walls only work when the state is stable which led to the fall of China.

Advantages of alliance system

• Lessens cost of defence.

• Allies provide knowledge and strategic depth.

Disadvantages of Alliance system

• The Aztecs were betrayed by their allies and they joined with their enemy, the Spanish.

• Alliance system can increase dependence.

Long term causes of Dutch revolt against the Hapsburg empire

• Spanish attempted to centralise authority

• Spanish rule enforced catholicism.

• Spanish taxed the Dutch heavily and spent it on American exploration

Short term causes of Dutch revolt against the Hapsburg empire

• Heavy taxes imposed which harmed Dutch merchants and cities.

• Calvinists were punished

• Spanish troops were stationed in Netherlands

Trigger of Dutch revolt against the Hapsburg empire

• Iconoclastic fury where Calvinists attacked Catholic churches

• Duke of Alba sent by Philip II with an army to establish council of blood leading to mass executions

Leader of Dutch revolt

William of Orange

Maritime fight between Dutch and Spanish

Rebellion spread in maritime provinces, sea beggars attacked Spanish ships and captured Brielle giving them a base.

Formation of Dutch republic

Union of Utrecht and Act of Abjuration kicked out the Spanish king and formed the Dutch republic

Amsterdam in the Dutch golden age

Amsterdam became finance center in Europe

Dutch trade in the golden age

VOC dominance in trade and overseas colonies

Three Anglo-Dutch war

Series of maritime conflict between Dutch and England over trade dominance

Internal rebellions in Netherlands

Fighting between Orangists and Republicans

Rampjaar

Republic was invaded by France, England, and Germany.

World War 1 causes

Alliance system, Militarism, Arms race, Didn’t think war would last, Balkans, Revenge, Assassination, Imperialism, Nationalism

Result of WW 1

End of empire, new countries formed, fascism increased

Treaty of Versailles

Signed between Germany and allied powers which depressed and humiliated Germany, emperor of Germany fled to Netherlands

Role of technology and culture

Trench warfare encourages military innovation, and ethnic tensions between Austro-Hungarian regions.

What are supranational organisations?

A union of countries that give up some of their national sovereignty in exchange for joint benefits like economic stability and security.

What is the United Nations?

A global organisation created after WW2 to keep peace and cooperation between countries.

What is the European Union?

Union of 27 European countries working together economically and politically.