Chapter 4: The First Empires

Study for semester exams.

Empire

large territory ruled by one authority

Imperialism

policy of expanding power through conquest

Sargon of Akkad

founder of the first empire

Akkadian Empire

first known empire

Babylonian Empire

empire ruled by Hammurabi

Hammurabi’s code

written law code

Assyrian empire

known for military strength

Persian empire

empire known for tolerance and organization

Satrap

Persian provincial governor

Bureaucracy

system of officials

Tribute

payments from conquered peoples

Tolerance

acceptance of different cultures/religions

Infrastructure

roads, canals, systems

Centralized government

power held by central authority

Cultural diffusion

spread of ideas and customs