Empires, their origins

final stage of developments emerging from agricultural revolution

Villages→cities→to “webs” of interdepencies between cities, villages, etc→differential growth

Emerge of hubs like in a network (security commerce concentrations of superior ressources, skills, locations = dominance)

• early example of ‘inner colonialism’

  • naqada culture + foundation of united Egyptian state

  • Uruk down to 3000BC center of regional trade, standardization, the “bevel rimmed bowl” etc

• Creates ‘imperial’ elites

  • invested in maintenance of network, its security, ensuring the facility of trade, commerce, the source of their wealth + social + pol. prestige