Chapter 3 and 4 Summary

Chapters 3 and 4
First civilizations generated the most powerful societies thus far.
Human civilization gradually broke down due to catastrophes and economic declines, but civilization as a form of human existence proved very resilient.
Little fundamental changed took place in the structures and natures of civilizations.
Huge large- scale population growth took place in early civilizations, but it was more consistent and not as explosive, and because of this, population growth was not as fast as in paleolithic times.
Second wave civilizations have developed very clear notions of religion and philosophy.
Indian civilizations have pioneered the crystallization of sugar process.
Romans achieved much in construction engineering.
Chinese invented piston bellows, the draw-loom, silk-handling machinery, the wheelbarrow, a better harness for draft animals, the crossbow, iron casting, the iron-chain suspension bridge, gunpowder, firearms, the magnetic compass, paper, printing, and porcelain.
Women developed a sense of autonomy.
Empires developed later, these were large powerful states with coercive power.
Empires were quite powerful in terms of size and they developed unique military forces.
Empires imposed peace and security, which fostered economic and artistic development.
In 500 BC, the great Persian Empire developed, under Cyrus the Great of the Achaemenid Dynasty. This empire spanned from Egypt to India, and was home to a diversity of various peoples. It's king could only be approached through an elaborate ritual.
The Persian Empire maintained a system of governors known as satraps as well as a secret police network. This empire also possessed tax collectors, record keepers, administrators.
Greek civilization on the other hand possessed city states with various popular participation.
Smelting bronze, copper, silver, lead, iron, zinc required amounts of wood, this caused soil erosion.
In Greek civilization, free people as citizens could be involved in the affairs of state.
At the Battle of Marathon, the Greek armies have defeated the invading Persian Empire.
Later in 338 BC, King Philip of Macedonia was able to achieve political unification of Greece.
His son Alexander the Great was later able to conquer and destroy the Persian Empire.
Alexander's Empire later fell apart into Macedonian, Ptolemaic and Seleucid Kingdoms.
Rome originally began as a monarchy, but the king was thrown off, and a Roman Republic was established, that was lead by the patricians, which had controlled the senate.
Rome grew by defeating Carthage in the Punic Wars and later by conquering Greece.