POL114H5 Chapter 2: Chapter 2 (History & Global Politics - War and Peace) - POL114 (2018)
21 Jun 2018
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Prof. Kristin Cavoukian POL114
Chapter 2 – History & GP: War &
Peace
THE ANCIENT LEGACY: RISE & FALL OF CIVILIZATIONS
In the Middle East, civilization developed around 3500 BCE, in the basins of three great river
systems. The river basin of the Tigris and Euphrates was the cradle for the Mesopotamian city-
states, and the Assyrian (1244-605 BCE) & Persian (550-331 BCE) empires. The Nile River basin
sustained the great Egyptian empires of the Pharaohs, which rose to the heights of the age of the
pyramids (c. 2590 BCE) and the XII (1991-1786 BCE) and XVIII (1570-1320 BCE) dynasties. The
Indus River basin & the plain of Ganges were the cradle of India’s early Harappa & Mohenjo-
Daro civilizations (c. 2550-1550 BCE). These civilizations developed complex instruments of
diplomacy, trade & war.
Given the conflictive nature of the past, it seems once individuals settle & their survival becomes tied
to the land, the idea of territorial ownership & a protective instinct becomes strong. In ancient
civilizations, all revenues were used on war, worship, or welfare (usually in that order).
History of Civilization
Mediterranean civilization was dominated by waves of Greek peoples (c. 1150-550 BCE). In Asia
Minor (today Turkey) the Greek advance clashed with the Persian Empire of Darius & Xerxes.
They resisted conquest, but the Greek city-states collapsed & the resulting Peloponnesian War
(431-404 BCE) between Athens & Sparta enabled Macedon, under Philip, to dominate the Greek
peninsula. Philip’s son, Alexander the Great, conquered a dominion that stretched from Macedon
to the Indus River, but his empire collapsed after his death. A new power centre developed around
Rome in central Italy & expanded over the entire Italian peninsula (510-264 BCE). Roman rule
(first as a republic & then as an empire) eventually stretched from present-day Spain to
Mesopotamia. However, the Roman Empire declined due to internal decay, civil war & invasions.
The Roman Empire was divided in 330 CE when the eastern Byzantine Empire was created under
the control of Constantinople (Byzantium). The western half of the empire fell to invasion in the 5th
century, but the Byzantine Empire survived another 1000 years until Constantinople (today Istanbul)
was conquered by the Ottoman Empire in 1453 CE. Then, a Dark Age enveloped much of Europe
& Mediterranean. Feudal Europe experienced nomadic invasions: from 1206-1696 CE the Mongol
empire launched invasions into Europe, the Middle East & Asia under Genghis Khan, and his sons
& grandsons. However, Mongol unity empire broke down, and its power receded in the face of
expanding Russia & China. Kingdoms ruled by dynastic monarchies began to establish
themselves in Europe between the 10-13th centuries in what are today the British Isles, Germany,
France & eastern Europe. In Europe, cannons & commerce helped kings consolidate power, and
develop agriculture, industry & intellect. However, this was slowed by famine, plague & war
(especially the Hundred Years’ War between England & France). European recovery began in
1450, as the empires of France, the Hapsburgs, Muscovy/Russia, Sweden & Lithuania all grew
through the 15th & 16th centuries. Finally, religious wars of the Reformation, culminating in the
devastating Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648), dominated political, intellectual & religious affairs.
European exploration began, by Portugal, Spain, France, England & Holland. This was motivated
Chapter 2 – History & Global Politics: War and Peace
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Prof. Kristin Cavoukian POL114
by a desire to circumvent the commercial cities of Venice & Genoa, and to get better trade routes to
Asia & the Middle East. This brought a European presence to virtually all inhabited continents.
Trade & commerce became global in scope, as Europeans colonized millions. In the Middle East, the
rise of Islam dominated the period after the fall of Rome. Established by Prophet Muhammad (c.
570-632 CE), Islam expanded in a century from the Arabian Peninsula to North Africa, southern
Spain, China & India. After a period of great prosperity & intellectual development, internal
dissension weakened the empire, which lost some of its territories in southern Europe & the
Mediterranean to crusading European Christians in the 10th century. Islam went through a
resurgence between 1300-1639, led by the Ottoman Empire. By 1354, the Ottomans expanded
through the Balkans, and around the Black sea. In the East, Islam spread through Persia, central &
southern Asia, the outlying provinces of China & present-day Indonesia. However, the Islamic
world began to fracture politically (as the Mughals in India & Safavid Persia clashed with each
other and the Ottomans) and religiously (as the Sunni & Shiite sects conflicted). In Asia, civilization
began with the development of the first agricultural, hunting & fishing communities around 4000
BCE, in what are today northern China, Southeast Asia & India. The Shang Dynasty (1700-1100
BCE) was the 1st dynasty in China, but like the Harappa & Mohenjo–Daro civilizations of India (c.
2550-1550 BCE), it succumbed to invasion. Chandra-Gupta’s dynasty (297 BCE to 236 CE)
unified most of the Indian peninsula. Invasion from the north fragmented the empire, which was
reestablished under the Gupta empires (320-410 CE). The Chou Dynasty (1122-221 BCE)
replaced the Shang Dynasty. However, after 771 BCE the empire increasingly fragmented into
independent kingdoms engaged in continual conflict, culminating in the Warring States period of
403-221 BCE. The victorious Ch’in Empire in turn collapsed & was replaced by the Han Dynasty
(206 BCE to 220 CE), which established a well-administered empire. Invasions of nomadic peoples
prompted the Ch’in Empire & Han dynasty to build the Great Wall of China. But it couldn’t protect
the Han Empire from internal disintegration & nomadic invaders breached the wall in 304 CE.
Recovery was slow, but under the Sui (581-617 CE), T’ang (618-907), and Sung (960-1279)
dynasties, China expanded, became prosperous & scientifically advanced. Mongol invasion brought
a period of decline, but under the Ming dynasty (1386-1644) power & prosperity were restored. In
Japan, feudal warlords dominated until the Tokugawa shogunate unified Japan for 250 years before
the forced opening by the European powers. In Africa, civilization developed in the Nile tributaries
& in eastern Africa, where the Kingdom of Kush dominated from c. 900 BCE to 400 CE. Settlers
moved through present-day Ethiopia into southern Africa, and Iron Age civilizations developed in
central & southern Africa by 100 CE. African Trading empires developed over the next 1000 years
in what is today Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Congo & Ghana. By European arrival, Africa had a thriving
trading system based on gold, ivory, copper & slaves. British, Portuguese & Dutch trading stations
spread in Africa. Civilizations emerged in Mesoamerica (today southern Mexico) in the form of
the Olmecs & Zapotecs and in the central Andes around 1000 BCE. In the 400s, the Maya invaded
the Olmecs & Zapotecs (300-900 CE). In North America, trading & agricultural centres emerged in
Hopewell territory (300 BCE to 550 CE). In Central America, the Mayans were followed by the
Toltecs in the 1000s, & the Aztecs in the 1200s. In South America, civilizations started in the Andes
& were unified under the Huari & Tiahuanaco empires (600-800 CE). These empires collapsed,
and unity in the Andes was not achieved until the Inca civilization in the 1400s. At the start of the
1500s, Spain overthrew Aztec & Inca civilizations. Portugal expanded into Brazil, establishing a
slave-operated sugar industry.
In Conclusion
Chapter 2 – History & Global Politics: War and Peace
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Prof. Kristin Cavoukian POL114
History is dominated by civilizations & empires, who conquered, tortured, enslaved or killed weaker
actors. Realists say history is made by the militarily powerful. Critical theorists insist weaker actors
have made an impact in history & shaken empires through resistance. They also point to the many
groups that survived & maintained their culture, only to find independence later. This history also
highlights the steady ascent of Europe to a position of global dominance.
THE MODERN STATE & THE PEACE OF WESTPHALIA
What is The Peace of Westphalia?
The Peace of Westphalia ended the Thirty Years’ War in Europe in 1648 & established a new
European order. Europe transitioned from “kingly states” to “territorial states”. The Peace of
Westphalia established the constitutional & legal status of states as territorial entities. With the virtual
collapse of the European empires by the 1950s, the world was left with 100s of sovereign states that
inherited the territorial, legal & administrative structures & practices of the European tradition.
Hence, the modern international system & international law is often called the Westphalian State
System.
Why did this change occur?
oA Weakened Church: The power of the church had been weakened by the splits in Christendom, especially
during the Reformation. The horrors of the Thirty Years’ War (in what is today Germany, two-thirds of the
population was killed or displaced) revealed the fragility of Christian Europe.
oStronger Monarchies: Some of the monarchs of medieval Europe had been slowly acquiring increased
economic & military power, which enabled them to expand their territories through the amalgamation & conquest
of less powerful political units.
oIncreased Stability: Establishment of hereditary monarchies promised increased stability with respect to
inevitable transitions in leadership.
oMore Control: The expansion of administrative and legal systems, with their power derived from the monarch,
improved the capacity of rulers to exert control over their territories and subjects.
For these reasons, the state emerged as the dominant political actor in international affairs & took on
the distinctive characteristics we recognize today. As these developments occurred, European
monarchies were embarking on the first period of European exploration & empire building.
What is a State?
The term state refers to political entities with the following qualities:
oOccupy a defined territory.
oPossess a permanent population.
oSovereign with respect to other states (they are free from interference in their internal affairs).
oDiplomatically recognized by other states.
oPossess a monopoly on the legitimate use of force within their territories.
What’s the Difference Between States & Nations?
State refers to an autonomous institutional & legal structure that governs a defined territory; it is a
political & legal concept. Nation refers to a people who possess a shared sense of common descent
& unifying ethnic, religious, or linguistic characteristics; it is an ethnic & cultural concept. A nation
may exist without a state, such as the case of Palestinian & Kurdish people. States that have one
nation living within its borders are called nation states. Very few exist in the world today.
Chapter 2 – History & Global Politics: War and Peace
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Chapter 2 history & gp: war & The ancient legacy: rise & fall of civilizations. In the middle east, civilization developed around 3500 bce, in the basins of three great river systems. The river basin of the tigris and euphrates was the cradle for the mesopotamian city- states, and the assyrian (1244-605 bce) & persian (550-331 bce) empires. The nile river basin sustained the great egyptian empires of the pharaohs, which rose to the heights of the age of the pyramids (c. 2590 bce) and the xii (1991-1786 bce) and xviii (1570-1320 bce) dynasties. Indus river basin & the plain of ganges were the cradle of india"s early harappa & mohenjo- These civilizations developed complex instruments of diplomacy, trade & war. Given the conflictive nature of the past, it seems once individuals settle & their survival becomes tied to the land, the idea of territorial ownership & a protective instinct becomes strong.
