Key Concept 2.2 The Development of States and Empires

In the pre-classical age (8000 B.C.E. to 600 B.C.E.) the first states developed in core civilizations. Then, powerful cities imposed their rule on surrounding areas through conquest and the first empires were born. In the classical age (600 B.C.E. to 600 C.E.) empires grew on a massive scale through territorial conquest with massive armies. The growing scale of these empires along with their increased ethnic and cultural diversity required more sophisticated methods of governance.

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I. The number and size of key states and empires grew dramatically by imposing political unity on areas where previously there had been competing states.